Sure,
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Ten months after announcing her retirement, Alizé Cornet will make her return to competition. The 35-year-old Nice native will notably participate in the Open Capfinances Rouen Métropole, a WTA 250 tournament that will take place from April 12 to 20.
The former world number 11 ended her career in May 2024 during the French Open. Yet, as the 2025 season approached, she let a certain nostalgia show through. “It’s strange not to cut Christmas celebrations short this year and not to rush to Australia for the first time in 20 years,” she confided on her social media.
This Monday, she made her return official. “You thought you got rid of me, but that’s not the case just yet! See you soon for more excitement together,” she declared in a statement released by the organizers of the Rouen Open.
A not-so-surprising return
The Nice native had been back to training for several weeks with one goal in mind: to play at the highest level again at the Rouen Open. To best prepare for her comeback, she was spotted several times at the Mouratoglou Academy. Alizé Cornet will participate with a wildcard allowing her to enter directly into the main draw.
Before that, Alizé Cornet will play as early as next week at the WTA 125 tournament in La Bisbal in Spain. She also announced her intention to participate in the qualifying rounds of tournaments in Madrid and Rome a bit later.
Alizé Cornet’s last match on the WTA circuit was her first-round elimination at the French Open in May 2024 against Zheng Qinwen. She decided to retain her ranking points and is currently ranked 523rd in the world.
If her career halt was dictated by physical difficulties and notably her persistent shoulder issue, the six-month break spent traveling around France allowed her to recharge. Similarly, the release of her book just before her career’s end helped her turn the page on tennis by venturing into writing. Perhaps this return to competition will offer her a source of inspiration for her next book.
However, this return to competition raises questions. Is it just a few weeks’ hiatus or a true long-term comeback? With her six titles won on the WTA circuit, the Nice native will have the opportunity to provide the first answer on the courts in Rouen.