PARIS — Alizée Cornet has been named captain of France’s Billie Jean King Cup team, months after retiring as a player.
The French Tennis Federation announced the nominations on Sunday, saying Cornet stood out from other candidates because of his “investment in French tennis, his profile, his motivation and his playing field.”
She replaces Julien Beneteau, who had held the role since 2019.
The 35-year-old Cornet’s role will also include preparing the French Olympic team for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, monitoring national team players during competition, and supervising youth teams.
“I am grateful for the trust the federation has placed in me and am determined to do everything in my power to help our players reach their full potential,” Cornet said in a statement. “My aim is to build a strong team spirit based on high standards, cohesiveness and passion for the France jersey.”
Cornet retired from playing after losing in the first round of the French Open in May.
During a 20-year career in which she was hailed as a young prodigy, Cornet reached a career-high ranking of No. 11 in 2009 and won six titles as a solid baseline player with a powerful backhand.
She holds the record for most consecutive Grand Slam tournament appearances by a woman, with 69 appearances, from the 2007 Australian Open to this year’s French Open.
An avid writer, Cornet published his first novel “La Valse des Jours” (Waltz of the Days) in 2022.