As an author, she’ll likely remain in the public eye, but Cornet will surely be grateful not to have to live raw and sometimes painful moments with live television cameras focused on her.
“I would say that the public can give you so much but also can make you feel alone, because as a French player, you want to make them proud,” she said. “You want to perform. When you can’t make it, it’s difficult, because you feel that you’re disappointing.
“It’s not only me. Other French players have that feeling, as well. Everything is very intense. But it’s also good, in a way.”
Never one to shy away from the pressure, Cornet won eight of 12 deciding sets at Roland-Garros, and earned 21 victories at Porte d’Auteuil. She reached the round of 16 twice here, in 2015 and 2017.
But it is her record of 69 consecutive Grand Slam main draws played that will stand the test of time. The consistency and professionalism required to maintain such a streak for what has amounted to half of her life is a testament to her steel.