Tennis Spy: Alize Cornet

Full name: Alize Cornet

Nationality: French

Age: 19 (DOB: January 22, 1990)

World Ranking: 13

Career highlights: Winner 2008 WTA Budapest; 2008 runner-up at WTA Acapulco and WTA Rome; 2007 Junior French Open champion.

General: Cornet is the new French number one - overtaking Marion Bartoli and Amelie Mauresmo - after soaring up the rankings in the past 12 months. Despite her consistent play on the circuit she is yet to make much impression at the Grand Slam tournaments - although match points against eventual runner-up Dinara Safina in the fourth round of the Australian Open was a step in the right direction.

Strengths: Aggressive baseline style, happy to swing hard and aim for the lines - attributes which give her an effective line in spectacular winners. Powerful forehand shot-making helps her dominate rallies, and a very solid two-handed backhand - her favourite weapon - gives her few problems. Quick on her feet.

Weakesses: Her serve is good when it's on song, but on a bad day she gets far too few first serves in - often struggling to top 50 per cent - and registers plenty of double faults as a result. The aggressive forehand might be effective, but the fact she hits for the corners and tries to score winners can lead her to over-do it and rack up the unforced errors.

Prospects: If she can improve her serve and learn when to temper her aggression, she'll gain the consistency needed to go from a good top-20 player to a world-beater. With her basic tools there's no telling where a bit more experience and maturity will take her.

Personal: Coached by Pierre Bouteyre, and managed by her brother and agent Sebastien. Has one cat and one dog. Began playing at age four. Favourite music is rock, and favourite film is Lord of the Rings. Other interests include basketball, handball, football, playing piano, reading, watching TV. Loves the city of Nice, and had a brief stint as a child star in French TV show Instit.