Frenchwoman Alize Cornet was at the centre of a Roland Garros cheating storm yesterday after she was accused of faking injury by an opponent. Cornet called for a medical timeout and required treatment during changeovers in the final set of her second round clash against Germany’s Tatjana Maria.
At one stage, the 26-year-old Cornet, grimacing in pain, was helped off court to her chair by a trainer and tournament supervisor. She was seen to weep as she received treatment. But Maria believed that Cornet was deliberately playing for time in order to allow her cramping to ease. At the end, Maria, 28, angrily admonished Cornet, furiously pointing her finger at the French player who won the match 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4.
“You know why I’m mad at you. You know what you did,” raged the German on a chaotic Court Two. Maria later vented her fury on Twitter. “I am really sad and i know that it will not change the result! But this story is not done! Rules are here for something right?” she wrote.
Pundits and players also laid into Cornet. “@alizecornet needs to be in LA at a casting call....ok peeps, lets have a poll. Who is more a drama queen between #Bartoli and #Cornet?” wrote former tour player Rennae Stubbs, now a respected TV commentator.
Dutch player Richel Hogenkamp tweeted: “Every changeover cramp treatments and an Oscar nomination... Oh and into the next round, I would say good day at the office - #cornet #BOO.”
German language Tennis Magazine on their social media account dubbed the clash “Crampgate in Paris.”
Cornet insisted she was not a cheat, that she played by the rules and was mystified by Maria’s frustrations.
“I didn’t understand so much why she was so mad at me. She even told me when we shake hands that she thought I was not fair play,” said Cornet.
The world number 50, who goes on to face American veteran Venus Williams for a place in the last-16, said she had cramped in the right leg. However, the help she sought from the trainer was for a pain in the left leg as treatment for cramping is banned.
“Well, I didn’t choose to cramp at the end of the second set, and I didn’t choose to have this pain in my leg, and I needed a treatment for that. I didn’t take a treatment for my cramp because I know the rule, and I respect it. My right leg was totally pulling apart and not treating, but I had the treatment for my hip because I felt a pain. I’m really sorry she got so pissed because this is useless.”
Adding intrigue to the controversy is that Cornet and Maria were to come face to face again later in the women’s doubles. Cornet will team with Poland’s Magda Linette while Maria plays alongside Madison Brengle of the United States.