The Franco-French duel expected in the second round of the Australian Open between Caroline Garcia and Alizée Cornet will ultimately not take place: if the first has successfully entered the competition, the second was eliminated on Tuesday January 17 at Melbourne.
Caroline Garcia, 4e world, which is one of the favorites of the tournament, quietly disposed of the Canadian Katherine Sebov (190e and qualifying result), 6-3, 6-0. “The first six-seven games were tight, but getting the break freed me up”commented the 29-year-old Lyonnaise.
She perfectly set up her forward game to knock out her opponent (22 winners and 5 aces). “It’s the first major of the year and the first time I’ve won on the Rod Laver court”she said with a big smile.
Alizée Cornet exited in the first round
A Masters winner and US Open semi-finalist last year, Garcia will face another Canadian in the second round, 2021 Flushing Meadows finalist Leylah Fernandez (40e).
Alizé Cornet, 34e world, was eliminated in the first round of the Australian Open by Canadian Leylah Fernandez (40e) 7-5, 6-2, Tuesday in Melbourne. Quarter-finalist in a major tournament for the first time last year in Melbourne, the Niçoise, who will celebrate her 33rd birthday on Sunday, had not lost there in the first round since 2012.
Among the 19 Tricolores involved, Caroline Garcia is the fourth to join the second round (after Clara Burel, Corentin Moutet and Constant Lestienne the day before). Alizé Cornet and Diane Parry join the clan of the eliminated (after Arthur Rinderknech, Grégoire Barrère, Quentin Halys, Luca Van Assche, Séléna Janicijevic and Léolia Jeanjean).
