The last time Frenchwoman Alize Cornet was at Hobart’s Domain Tennis Centre, she could not the wipe the smile off her face.
As the seventh seed, Cornet had just won her fifth WTA singles title and done so in stunning fashion, including an impressive 6-1 6-2 demolition of former world No.5 Eugenie Bouchard in the final.
“It’s been two years that I haven’t won a title, so it feels great,” she exclaimed post-match.
Our 2016 champion @alizecornet! What an amazing week and performance today! #HobartTennis pic.twitter.com/uWkIaD0LC3
— Hobart International (@HobartTennis) January 16, 2016
As Cornet celebrated her victory, she spoke about the pressures of life on tour and declared her title win was the ultimate reward for persistence.
Now Cornet is set to return to Hobart (for her fourth visit) with a new challenge – she is aiming to become the first player to ever defend a Hobart International singles title. It is a feat no-one in the tournament’s 23-year history has managed to do.
Recent title defences:
| Hobart champion | Title defence result |
| 2015: Heather Watson (GBR) | Quarterfinal loss |
| 2014: Garbine Muguruza (ESP) | Did not defend |
| 2013: Elena Vesnina (RUS) | Second round loss |
| 2012: Mona Barthel (GER) | Runner-up |
| 2011: Jarmila Wolfe (AUS) | Quarterfinal loss |
Adding to the difficulty of the task, Cornet is yet to defend a WTA title in her four previous attempts:
| Cornet’s titles | Title defence result |
| Katowice, Poland 2014 | Quarterfinal loss |
| Strasbourg, France 2013 | First round loss |
| Bad Gastein, Austria 2012 | Did not defend |
| Budapest, Hungary 2008 | Second round loss |
The 26-year-old started her 2017 season in style yesterday, scoring a hard-fought upset over seventh seed and another former Hobart International champion Elena Vesnina in the first round of the Brisbane International. Her next opponent is American Christina McHale, the Hobart International 2016 doubles champion.
1st of january ✔
1st match of the season ✔
1st thriller ✔
1st win ✔ 🎉🎉🎉 !
Welcome to the 2017 season 😁 #BrisbaneInternational #lookingtired pic.twitter.com/mR3dTxdKsd— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) January 1, 2017
Cornet is a fierce competitor – and returns to Hobart in 2017 as one of the players to beat. Can the world No.41 become the first player to defend their Hobart title? Join the #HobartTennis conversation and let us know your thoughts on Facebook or Twitter.