Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Monday April 14, 2025 at 4:18 p.m.
The 19 -year -old French player Sarah Rakotanga Rajaonah won her very first victory on the WTA circuit by defeating the 58th world, Lucia Bronzetti, in the first round of the Rouen tournament. Alizé Cornet, on the other hand, declared forfeit.
French female tennis has still lived a disappointing week, with the failure of the French BJK Cup team in its attempt to qualify for a dam to try to go back to the world group. This week, most French players are present in Rouen, for a WTA 250 on clay, where they will try to shine. And from the first day of the tournament, good news arrived in the French clan, who came from a player unknown to the general public, Sarah Rakotanga Rajaonah. Classified in the 291st in the world, the 19-year-old Toulouse was extricated from the qualifications this weekend and won her very first victory on the WTA circuit, beating the 58th world, Lucia Bronzetti. The Frenchwoman, victorious of four ITF tournaments (the D2 of female tennis) and who played last year for the University of Oklahoma after having obtained her scientific baccalaureate, left no chance to her opponent, however much more experienced (a WTA title won, three finals, a third round during the last Indian Wells), winning 6-2, 6-3 in 1h22. Rakotanga Rajaonah saved the only break ball that the Italian has been given, 2-2 in the first set, and took his service at 3-2 and 5-2 in the first round and 1-0 in the second. A victory that will allow him to win around thirty places in the standings, and to face in the next round Jaqueline Cristian or Diane Parry, players less well classified than Bronzetti. For a new big performance by the young Toulouse?
Triceps injured cornet
Alizé Cornet, on the other hand, will not compete in the Rouen tournament. Three weeks ago, she announced, to the general surprise, her return to competition after ten months of retirement during the Norman tournament. But she injured herself in BJK Cup, where she had been called in reinforcement after spending two laps in an ITF tournament in Spain. “It is with great disappointment that I unfortunately have to withdraw from the Rouen open. I made a lesion to the right triceps during my simple BJK Cup and this will require rest and care. I was delighted to return to Rouen to celebrate my return to the circuit but my body did not manage the chain of these first two weeks of recovery well. I hope to be able to come back as soon as possible to continue to please me, “wrote the 35-year-old player on her social networks. Alizé Cornet did not plan to participate in the next Roland-Garros.
