Aggressive baseline play mixed with soft dropshots from Cornet plus more Williams errors resulted in a further set two lead of 5-0 for the Frenchwoman.

The 32 year old Williams steadied her tennis for the next several games to hold serve, break serve, then hold again to reach 5-3.

At 30 all with Cornet serving for set two, Williams struck a backhand down the line wide to set up a Cornet set point which the Frenchwoman then converted with a crosscourt forehand winner.

At 2 all in set three with Williams serving at breakpoint, a bad bounce at the baseline resulted in a Williams netted backhand down the line which sent Cornet ahead 3-2.

A Cornet dropshot, crosscourt forehand winner combination followed by an ace out wide increased the Frenchwoman’s lead to 4-2 as she held serve to love.

Cornet then broke Williams serve to reach 5-2 behind two Williams backhand errors, a Cornet swing forehand volley down the line winner and a Cornet crosscourt backhand winner.

Unwilling to lose without a fight even though her best tennis was missing, Williams broke serve then held serve to reach 5-4.

However in the final game of the match, Williams committed errors from her backhand, forehand, backhand volley to set up match point.

A dramatic final Cornet dropshot to Williams’ backhand side; which Williams ran to the net to reach but netted her own backhand reply, ended the match.