Australian Open: After 63 attempts, Alizé Cornet is in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time

Enlarge image

Alizé Cornet: "An incredible feeling"

Photo:

MARTIN KEEP / AFP

French Alizé Cornet's run at the Australian Open continues.

The 32-year-old eliminated former world number one Simona Halep in Melbourne and is in the quarterfinals for the first time in her 63rd participation in a Grand Slam tournament.

Cornet prevailed 6: 4, 3: 6, 6: 4 and then sank to his knees.

»A dream comes true for me with my first quarter-final.

It's never too late to try again,' Cornet said afterwards.

Cornet was 15 when she was allowed to compete in the 2005 French Open thanks to a wildcard.

There she failed in the second round - and that was to happen often in the following years.

Again and again she took part in the four Grand Slam tournaments, most recently 60 times in a row;

she never made it to the quarterfinals.

Until this Australian Open.

Cornet started well against co-favourite Halep, leading by one set and 3-1 when she suddenly slacked off.

She lost five games and 16 points in a row, the match had to go into the deciding set.

Halep fended off two match points on his own serve in the ninth game before Cornet won the duel in the tenth game.

She dropped to her knees on the pitch, clasped her hands and cupped her face before glancing across the stadium at her coaching staff.

"It's an incredible feeling," said Cornet, who is contesting her 17th Australian Open.

The number 61 in the world rankings now meets the American Danielle Collins, who prevailed 4: 6, 6: 4, 6: 4 against the Belgian Elise Mertens.

mon/sid/AP/Reuters