Alize Cornet celebrated her 32nd birthday with a memorable come-from-behind victory to surge into the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time since 2009.
In scorching conditions, Cornet defeated 29th seed Tamara Zidansek in 2 hours and 43 minutes in a huge effort after finding herself down a set and 4-1 in the second, only to turn things around to take the match in three sets 4-6 6-4 6-2.
At 4-1 up and 30/0, Zidansek, who seemed like she was struggling physically throughout the match, copped a time violation and appeared to lose her concentration, opening the door for the Frenchwoman.
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Then, at 4-all in the second set Cornet lost her first serve after also copping a time violation from chair umpire Katarzyna Radwan-Cho.
The 32-year-old was left fuming at the call and had some choice words for the Polish official.
She then stormed towards the centre of the court to double down at the chair umpire, berating the official as she attempted to offer another explanation.
“I took the ball and I went straight here on the line! Why did you time violate me?” she asked.
“No don’t say anything, just listen to me.
“It is very far and you have to walk every time. And you’re here just sitting and you’re like ‘time violation’. It’s a little bit too much.”
Yet that clash seemed to inspire Cornet as she pushed ahead and took the second set before snaring the third as her opponent wilted down the stretch.
Speaking on court after the match, Cornet admitted she was starting to feel the impact of the sun late in the match.
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“It was mostly about survival today, I didn’t miss this Australian heat, it’s so brutal. Playing at midday it’s really about surviving. I can’t believe I won this match,” Cornet said.
“I was 6-4 4-1 down. I couldn’t find a solution but I just kept going an put all the resilience I could into it and I came back. It’s a magic win for me.
“I’m so happy. It’s been 13 years since my first- fourth round and now I’m back there at the Australian Open!”
The last time Cornet was in the final 16 at the Australian Open she was a teenager and went down to Dinara Safina, in a clash the Frenchwoman described as a “really tough loss.”
Despite the onerous conditions, Corney paid tribute to the Australian crowd cheering her on and giving her “so much love”.
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