Alize Cornet given code violation at US Open for changing her top mid-game

The French tennis star was hit with a warning.

Alize Cornet was the latest female tennis star to be scrutinized for her wardrobe as she was given a warning yesterday after she momentarily took off her shirt because she had it on back to front. The French star was in the middle of her opening round match with Johanna Larsson when she realised her top was on incorrectly. Turning away from the court, Cornet removed her shirt before putting it back on correctly before turning to resume the game. However, the court umpire then issued the athlete with a code violation leaving Cornet and spectators courtside and around the world baffled.

US Open apologises after Alizé Cornet penalised for removing shirt https://t.co/AYi6y0WTpI By @tom_lutz pic.twitter.com/yrt7S5Ewgq

— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) August 29, 2018

Earlier in the match, Cornet had called for a time-out due to the high temperatures reaching up to 38C, taking to the dressing room to change her top before later realising she had put it on incorrectly. The umpire's decision to penalise Cornet has been widely criticised especially since no such rules apply to male tennis players. Male players are allowed to change their shirts on court with many of them often removing them completely between games to cool down. However, the mere seconds Cornet was without a shirt – although wearing a sports bra no less – resulted in a punishment.

Alize Cornet came back to court after 10 minute heat break. Had her fresh shirt on back to front. Changed at back of court. Got a code violation. Unsportsmanlike conduct..... ? But the men can change shirts on court. https://t.co/sCN4KDXYTb

— judy murray (@JudyMurray) August 28, 2018

Alize Cornet given a code violation for briefly removing her top because it was on backwards (wearing a sports bra underneath, no less).

Sure! Great! Logical! Fair! pic.twitter.com/IyL4ZGS3UA — christina riley (@_cmarier) August 29, 2018

Worldwide criticism resulted in the US Open issuing an apology for the decision, saying:

“We regret that a code violation was assessed to Ms Cornet yesterday. We have clarified the policy to ensure this will not happen moving forward. "Fortunately, she was only assessed a warning with no further penalty or fine.”

Now, Cornet says she appreciates the apology but was shocked by how much attention the moment got in the first place.

“I think it’s very fair from them to apologise to me. I really appreciate it. “When I woke up this morning, I didn’t think that this code violation would become so famous in less than 24 hours, and I’m very surprised about it.”

This comes just a week after the president of the French federation, Bernard Giudicelli, deemed the catsuit Serena Williams wore “not acceptable” because players have to “respect the game”.

“What Bernard Giudicelli said about Serena’s catsuit was 10,000 times worse than what happened to me on that court yesterday,” Cornet said. “Because he’s the president of the French Federation and because he doesn’t have to do that.”

Serena says her "Black Panther-inspired catsuit" was to help prevent blood clots after she had a pulmonary embolism after giving birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia. The 23-time Grand Slam title winner has since taken to the court in a leather jacket and a tutu because she's Serena Williams and she has zero f**ks to give.