PARIS (AP) — Alize Cornet has been named French captain of the Billie Jean King Cup team, months after retiring as a player.
The French Tennis Federation announced the nomination on Sunday, saying Cornet stood out among other candidates for her “investment in French tennis, her profile, her motivation and her accessibility.”
She will replace Julien Benneteau, who has held this position since 2019.
The 35-year-old Cornet's responsibilities also include preparing the French Olympic team for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, as well as supervising national team players during competitions and overseeing youth teams.
“I appreciate the trust the federation has placed in me and am committed to doing everything in my power to help our players reach their full potential,” Cornet said in a statement. “My goal is to build a strong team spirit based on high standards, solidarity and passion for the French jersey.”
Cornet retired from playing after losing in the first round of the French Open in May.
In a 20-year career in which she was touted as a young prodigy, Cornet reached a career-high No. 11 in 2009 and won six titles as a reliable baseline player with a strong backhand.
She holds the women's record for the most consecutive Grand Slams played with 69, a streak that lasted from the 2007 Australian Open to this year's French Open.
A keen writer, Cornet published her first novel, La Valse des Jours (The Waltz of Days), in 2022.
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