Razzano licks Cornet

14 June 2009 || By Monticelli

virginie razzanoVirginie Razzano carved out a straightforward victory over compatriot Alize Cornet at Eastbourne's Devonshire Park in Monday's battle of the French 'belles'.

But alarm bells were ringing initially for 19-year-old Cornet, who was expected to easily advance to the second round at the expense of Paris-based Razzano.

Cornet, three places higher than her opponent in the current world rankings at no22, looked edgy throughout the tight contest until Razzano forced a tie-break. And then the ever-improving 26-year-old Razzano grasped the opportunity to move ahead by tempting Cornet towards the net and dispatching winners past the stunned teenager.

With Razzano's confidence riding high on the grass, Cornet seemed distracted and played more like she was on the beach in her home town of Nice on the French Riveria. But it was not a nice sight for her handful of adoring fans who enthusiastically cheered her every point, especially her trademark two-handed backhand.

And Razzano moved into cruise control to race away with few problems in the second set to triumph 6-2 and boost her confidence before Wimbledon, where she has not won a singles match since 2005.