PIERCE BACKS FRANCE

Mary Pierce’s countrywoman, Alize Cornet, will play against the American superstar Venus Williams in her second round match in the Australian Open 2013. This will be the third match between these two players. Venus Williams won the previous two matches. The last time these two players had taken on each other was in Dubai WTA Open 2009. In that match, Venus had defeated Cornet in the straight sets by 6-3, 6-2.

Venus Williams has started her campaign in the Australian Open in a brilliant fashion. In her first round match, she thrashed Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan. She dropped just a single game in that match and won that match by 6-1, 6-0.

Venus has been in very good form in the new season. In the recently played Hopman Cup, she performed brilliantly and came out victorious in all her Round Robin matches.

On the other hand, Cornet was given a tough fight by her opponent in her first round match. She defeated Marina Erakovic of New Zealand in a close match by 7-5, 6-7, 10-8.

When asked about the second round match against Cornet, Williams said, “Cornet is a fine player. I have played against her a couple of times in the past and I have won on both the occasions. But, history doesn’t matter. If I have to beat her for the third consecutive time, I will have to be at the top of my game.”

When Cornet was asked if she is nervous before the second round match against Venus Williams, she said, “Venus is obviously a great player and I have struggled against her in the past. But, I am not nervous. I don’t want to be in a negative mindset before such an important match. I will go out there and try my best. Hopefully, the result would go in my favour.”