Missing rival Serena, Cornet makes it through the rain in Montréal

MONTRÉAL, Canada - When the Coupe Rogers draw initially came out, Ladies Championship Gstaad winner Alizé Cornet couldn't help but think the universe was playing a trick on her.

"My first reaction was, ‘Hmm, Serena to play Kerber? Nice draw!’" she laughed after winning her first hardcourt match of the US Open Series, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 win over Tatjana Maria on Tuesday.

Indeed, all eyes were on Cornet's section, in no small part because she was set to play 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams for the first time since the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Though the French veteran lost that match to the four-time Olympic Gold medalist, she maintains an respectable 3-4 head-to-head with Williams after winning all three of their 2014 clashes - including a thrilling third round at Wimbledon.

"I was very excited to play against her in the first round. I was picturing a night session on Centre Court, and I was very excited about that. First I was shocked, thinking, ‘Oh no!’ But then I thought, ‘Yeah, actually this is cool!’ I know she’ll keep playing for a while, so I might have another chance to play her."

Williams ultimately withdrew due to personal reasons, and Cornet was no less out of the woods against the unseeded German, another of the tour's talented moms who just captured her maiden WTA title at the Mallorca Open.

"A player like Maria will make me play a lot; she isn't as aggressive, so I had to make the game happen, but I had to do it right because she has good hands and is very tricky."

The duo last played three dramatic sets at Roland Garros in 2016, and the weather played its part on Monday night, causing multiple interruptions after Cornet dropped the opening set.

While Maria Sharapova and Sesil Karatantcheva were shuffled on and off Court Central multiple times, Cornet and Maria opted to wait it out for large stretches, allowing the Frenchwoman to interact with the hardiest of fans on Court Banque Nationale.

"I was trying to keep myself busy, and I also didn’t want to go back and forth between the court and locker room too many times. I prefer to stay on court and wait it out. Tatjana didn’t agree so much with this situation, but I was hoping the rain would stop – which it didn’t in the end. I was happy to share this moment with the crowd because there was some music on, we were dancing and did the Olé wave.

"When I got back on court for the three games, I was so much more relaxed and I think that time really helped give me some distance from the situation. It might have made me calmer, so it saved me a little bit."

Cornet returned to court the next day and raced through the second set, but was made to battle through a tricky decider before ultimately advancing after two hours and 26 minutes - not counting the hours in between.

"I think the nerves were pretty much exhausted after a night like this, but I had a good night’s sleep, but I had good talks with my boyfriend and my coach on the phone about what I had to do today. I think I did those things very well; I stayed focused from the first point until the last."

Now the former World No.11 will get her shot at a big court match, opening play on Court Central against reigning Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber.

"I had to earn my spot to play Angie. It’s a nice privilege because she’s the Wimbledon champion and a huge champion in general. I will give everything, try my best.

"Last time we played I beat her in Beijing, but she was not the player that she is right now. She was a bit down and her game wasn’t what it has been since the beginning of the year. I’m just looking forward to playing her tomorrow."

Down as low as No.48 after Wimbledon, Cornet moved back into pole position to grab a seed at the US Open with her title run in Gstaad; a deep run in Montréal would all but assure the 28-year-old a spot among the Top 32.