Strasbourg (AFP)

The French Alizé Cornet underlined Monday her happiness to find the public Monday in Strasbourg, first tournament of the circuit, men and women alike, not to be played behind closed doors since the resumption of the season last month.

"It's heartwarming, it's nice and I think people are happy to see tennis live again and we are happy to have them on board. When it's done in good conditions, it's a plus ", she explained after her success in the first round against the Slovenian Polona Hercog in straight sets (6-3, 6-4).

The day before, the Niçoise had estimated with AFP that the players and the supporters could be "better separated" because there was according to her too much proximity in certain places.

"Sunday there were a lot of people (...) it was a little anxiety for the players (...) Now we have separate access to the courts. They made sure that the players and the public were not not together, she insisted. They (the organizers) do a very good job because it is not easy to be the first tournament to welcome people. "

The Strasbourg tournament is the last preparatory event before Roland-Garros (September 27-October 11), which will start Sunday in Paris with a drastically reduced gauge, to 5,000 people maximum, due to the health situation.

Alizé Cornet (30), who was playing her first match of the season on clay after reaching the round of 16 at the US Open, delivered a solid performance to dismiss Hercog, 50th player in the world yet very comfortable on this surface.

"I was happy with my feelings. It was a bit unexpected because in training it was a bit complicated and in the end I took my marks (...) in addition against a specialist player on clay. It's a good indicator that I'm feeling good, ”she said.

In the next round, Cornet's mission will be very complicated since it will be opposed to Kazakhe Elena Rybakina, 18th in the WTA standings.

Earlier in the day, Pauline Parmentier (N.154) could not do anything against the Polish Magda Linette (35th world), who won in two sets (6-4, 6-3).

Benefiting from a "wild-car", the 34-year-old Frenchwoman will put an end to her career at Roland-Garros.

© 2020 AFP