Serena Survives Cornet Challenge

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – World No.1 Serena Williams saved a pair of set points to defeat an always-dangerous Alizé Cornet, 7-6(5), 6-2, to reach the third round of the Olympic tennis event.

“It was really big for me just to win that first set,” Serena said after the match. “Or else I’d probably still be out there fighting.”

Ranked just inside the Top 50 after an up and down season rife with injury concerns, Cornet still had reason to be confident heading into her second round clash with the 22-time Grand Slam champion, having won their last three meetings in 2014 – including an epic third round thriller on the lawns of Wimbledon. Recovering from a double break down in the first set, the Frenchwoman moved her illustrious opponent about the court, drawing uncomfortable errors with the help of her signature drop shot.

“We’ve had so many tough matches in the past, so I couldn’t let the elements get into my head. I hadn’t played great against Alizé in the past – I don’t know how many matches! – so I thought how I at least wanted to get a win.”

Suddenly, Serena found herself serving to stay in a set she’d been on track to win, and faced a pair of set points back-to-back at 15-40. It was then that the Serena serve kicked into high gear, helping her save both set points and ultimately escape with the opening set unscathed – though not without a tense tie-break to decide the contest.

The second set saw the American take fuller ascendency, and though she failed to serve out the match on her first opportunity, she duly broke back in the next game to clinch the encounter in just under two hours.

Up next for the top seed is rising Ukrainian star and No.15 seed Elina Svitolina, who has been working with Serena’s own former rival and recent International Tennis Hall of Fame Inductee, Justine Henin.

“It’ll be fun for me. Elina is such a great person; she’s really young and does really well. We’ve had some really tough matches too, but it’ll be a good match.

“I hope I win, but she’s such a great girl and I’m always rooting for her.”

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