Cornet takes first career title

This year, Alize Cornet had reached the semifinals or better four times on clay, but she never made it to win her first Tour title. In Budapest, she changed all that, and gained her first title after winning to Andreja Klepac in straight sets, 76(5) 63.

Cornet's early clay court season results ended up in giving her a higher ranking, and also a chance to win a clay tournament, which she did today. Before the clay started to roam, she was in the Top 50, and now she is in the Top 20. Seeded second at the Gaz de France Grand Prix, Cornet was barely challenged in early rounds, winning in straight sets easily to players.

Cornet had more trouble against Klepac. Unseeded Klepac, who took out top seed Agnes Szavay to get into the finals, led 5-3 in the first set, but Cornet was desperate, and took the set 76(5), and in the second set, things seemed more controlled for Cornet, and she took the set to end the match and take the title.

"I was sick this morning; I went to see the doctor before my match and I was not sure I'd be able to play, so it was tough in the beginning of the match, especially since she hits the ball so hard and I knew I had to move well to have a chance," Cornet said. "But when I was behind I just fought as hard as I could, and after I won the first set things went much better for me the rest of the match."

"I knew she had a difficult match yesterday," Cornet said. "For my part I had quite an easy day yesterday, so without my GI illness I was probably in a much better position today physically. But she's really a fighter."

Cornet was one of just two players in the current Top 20 not to have won a Tour title but now shakes that tag, leaving Victoria Azarenka as the only one (the Belarusian has reached four finals though). Cornet also becomes the first French player to win a Tour singles title so far this year (they are now 1-3 in finals).

"I'm so happy to win today. It's my first victory on the Tour, so it's very special. It's my favorite surface and it's a big tournament - a Tier III - so it's really just unbelievable. I've had great results on clay this season. I was just really happy to be able to compete so well in Budapest this week."