At the last match of her 19-year career, Cornet did not have a fairytale run, but the French Open organizers made sure she had a proper send-off on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The 34-year-old, who is participating at Roland Garros for the twentieth time after entering her first major in Paris at the age of 15, shed tears during the video tribute that was shown following her defeat by Zheng.
Cornet addressed the assembly, stating: “It’s been a challenging day filled with a lot of emotion. I’m turning a twenty-year page and starting a new chapter in my life.
“I wish I could have played better, but I gave everything I could to this sport.”
Six-time WTA title winner Cornet was given a trophy during a post-match ceremony and was moved to tears as a montage of her career highlights aired on the big screen.
During her career, Cornet achieved a record 69 Grand Slam appearances in a row, starting at the Australian Open in 2007.
She participated in all four of the major tournaments in the sport 72 times, her best finish coming in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2022.
