Australian Open 2022 women’s wrap: Jelena Dokic reflects on Cornet’s message
Former player-turned commentator Jelena Dokic has opened up on the “empowering moment” when an Australian Open star publicly delivered a message of support.
Tennis
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Jelena Dokic has opened up on her emotional on-court exchange with Frenchwomen Alize Cornet, saying she was left speechless by the “empowering” moment.
Despite having just achieved her own dream of reaching a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time, Cornet chose her moment of glory to deliver an emotional message to the Australian former player-turned commentator.
Dokic this week revealed the vicious”fat-shaming” she had been subjected to during the Australian Open and Cornet offered her support.
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“You were an amazing player and now you’re an amazing commentator,” Cornet said, leading a shocked Dokic to cry.
Dokic on Tuesday described Cornet as a “class act” for the support and said the moment was “so much more than tennis”.
“It was incredible because this is her first ever Grand Slam final appearance and we saw how emotional she was and how happy she was to have done that,” Dokic said on the Today show.
“She is just incredible because this was her moment, this was all about her, so to do that it was really emotional.
Jelena Dokic reflects on THAT magical moment with Alize Cornet â¤ï¸#AusOpen - Live on Channel 9 and 9Now pic.twitter.com/q87I55KVnA
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 24, 2022
“I actually had no words there, I was left speechless and I didn’t even manage to thank her on the court and I just hugged her.
“This is amazing because this is so much more than tennis, so much more than sport. It’s empowering, it’s women supporting women at it’s best.
“She really is a class act and I’m so thankful that she did that. It’s beautiful words and she is absolutely amazing.”
After her match, Cornet explained why she had chosen to share that moment with Dokic.
“I was following her, you know, when she published her book, and I was following her story,” Cornet said.
“Now, I can see how she’s commentating and how she’s doing. I think she’s great. I just wanted to share this moment with her because it all made sense at that moment.”
Cornet had just saluted in a three-set epic over Simona Halep when she moved to support her former opponent.
The match against Halep proved that 63rd time was indeed the charm for Cornet, who has played in every grand slam main draw since 2007 but made her first quarter-final with the victory.
And it wasn’t easy, with on-court temperatures soaring.
No dry eyes in the house ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2022
This on-court interview between @alizecornet and Jelena Dokic is everything. #AusOpen · #AO2022pic.twitter.com/F3nN0XSHNX
Cornet, who famously collapsed on court due to heat in 2018, said she felt like she was “dying”.
“After 30 minutes of playing, my brain was already overloaded,” Cornet said.
“My vision was not clear anymore, my hands were shaking, and I was like ‘how am I going to do (if I am like this) after only 30 minutes?’.
“But I thought that on the other side of the court I thought that (Halep) was not feeling much better than me, and my box helped me so much.”
The enormity of her win spilt over after match point.
“That’s why we play tennis, that’s why I keep playing tennis - it’s for this moment where I can share all these emotions on the court with you,” Cornet said.
“The journey goes on and I still can’t believe it.”
ROASTED: MASSIVE UPSET AS STAR BOWS OUT IN DAYTIME FURNACE
Four years after Novak Djokovic blew up about the Australian Open’s heat policy a Spanish star has admitted she was cooked by Melbourne’s sunshine as No. 8 seed Paula Badosa was bounced out.
Badosa, 24, said her star power melted away against Madison Keys after toiling through three and a half hours on court in the past three days.
There is no reprieve in sight for players scheduled in afternoon timeslots, with the mercury set to remain in the mid-30s for the next three days.
“Very tough. It was very tough,” Badosa said of the conditions on Rod Laver Arena.
“I was feeling it a little extra today. It was very hot. It was quite tough to play there. It was tough because I knew I had to play maybe long points, do a tough match.
“I had no chance.”
A frightening court temperature reading of 69C during Djokovic’s excruciating three-hour victory against Gael Monfils in 2018 placed the heat policy in the spotlight.
It was then lights out for the old wet-bulb test as Tennis Australia introduced a new method to determine when it was too dangerous to play.
The new heat stress scale — introduced in 2019 — takes into account four factors.
They are air temperature, radiant heat, humidity and wind speed, delivering a real-time reading between one and five.
Players are given extended breaks when the scale reaches four while play is suspended for a reading of five.
The unseeded American had a forgettable year in 2021 but thrives in Australia and comfortably toppled Badosa 6-3, 6-1 in sweltering heat.
It set her up with a last eight clash against either French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova or two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka.
“Absolutely amazing,” said Keys. “I served pretty well and I think I returned pretty well.
“So off of the first ball I had a bit of advantage on a lot of the points and then was able to dictate.
“I was going to have to take my chances and go for it because if I gave her an inch she was going to take it.” Both players, among the tour’s biggest ball-strikers, have been in fine early season form.
Last weekend, Keys picked up the Adelaide International title while Badosa upset Krejcikova to win the Sydney Classic.
But Keys, who beat 2020 champion Sofia Kenin in the first round, was dominant. She was exceptional in the opening set with Badosa having few answers to her consistent returns and strong serves.
Keys broke the Spaniard’s first service game and gave Badosa little chance to strike back, slamming down serves at 188 km/h (116 km/h) and winning more than 80 percent of her first serve points.
She closed out the set with 16 winners to her opponent’s four. Badosa started taking more risks in the second set and landed some perfect returns to put pressure on the Keys serve.
They exchanged breaks before Keys’ consistency and precision saw her break three more times to wipe the Spaniard off court.
The 2017 US Open finalist has played some of her best tennis in Australia, making the semi-finals 2015 and the quarters three years later with a sparkling 24-8 career record at Melbourne Park.
Pegula pulls out best as temperate gauge skyrockets
American Jessica Pegula is on a quarter-final collision course with Australian Ash Barty after eliminating No. 5 seed Maria Sakkari to equal her best Grand Slam performance.
In a victory that will set up a quarter-final showdown against Barty should the Wimbledon champion triumph in her fourth-round clash against American Amanda Anisimova on Sunday night, Pegula dispatched the French and US Open semi-finalist in straight sets.
The 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 win matches Pegula’s best result at a Grand Slam after she also reached the quarterfinals at last year’s Australian Open.
The 21st seed opened up a 5-3 lead in the first set before a late rally from the Greek star enforced a tie break, which Pegula dominated.
But as the mercury rose on Margaret Court Arena, Pegula controlled her higher-ranked opponent to storm through the second set.
“That definitely was the best match that I have played this year, this tournament for sure,” Pegula said.
“So I’m glad I was able to bring it today and keep my stats pretty well I think it showed.
“I was honestly just really excited to play today. And it’s so nice to have you guys here, last year I did not have any fans so it’s so much more fun.”
Should Barty progress past Anisimova, who ousted Naomi Osaka in the third round, it will be just the second meeting between the world No. 1 and Pegula.
Pegula’s only meeting against Barty was in the first round at Roland Garros in 2019 when the Australian triumphed in straight sets.
“I will definitely be watching tonight,” Pegula said.
“I’m sure it will be a great match. Amanda has been playing really well and obviously Ash has, too, I’ve played them both before.
“Either way it’s going to be tough but I’m just going to take an ice bath and relax.”
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