Zidansek, semi finalist at Roland Garros last year, already achieved her best AO result by making the third round this year.
A win for Cornet would see her repeat her best performance in an AO - round of sixteen in 2009.
Until Naomi Osaka’s demise, Cornet’s win over third seed Garbiñe Muguruza was the biggest scalp of the tournament.
This was the first time Zidansek and Cornet had played each other.
Cornet served first, and a Zidansek forehand winner set up a break point. A forehand unforced error from Cornet gave Zidansek the break.
Cornet used the third break back point to even things at 1-1.
Zidansek broke to love, starting and ending the game with forehand winners.
Five out of five service breaks and Zidansek led 3-2. As the first player to hold serve, she increased the advantage to 4-2.
With backhand and forehand winners, and a Cornet double fault, Zidansek threatened to take a double break, but Cornet saved the two break points, and held serve for her first time in the match, trailing 3-4.
Zidansek served at 5-4 to win the set, and began with a backhand error. After that it was smooth sailing, an ace sparking a run of points which sent her to first set glory 6-4.
No change of fortune for Cornet in set two - she was broken immediately, and once again in the fifth game.
Zidansek was nearing the finish line at 4-1 and 30-0, but three forehand errors and a double fault later, Cornet had renewed hope, having retrieved one of the breaks of serve. A love game followed to make it even closer at 3-4.
Zidansek, serving in the eighth game, had six game points, went to deuce eight times, saved two break points, but was victim to a Cornet backhand winner down the line on the third break point. 4-4.
A couple of unforced errors had Cornet down 15-30, but she lifted, and held serve, clinching it with another backhand winner. The last four games had been Cornet’s and she was one game away from levelling the match.
Serving to stay in the set, Zidansek delivered four unforced errors, and Cornet just watched the implosion, accepting the spoils. 6-4 and going to a decider.
Cornet held serve in the opening game of set three, which was a change from the other sets.
Then another roller coaster. Zidansek began with two forehand failures. Then three winners, two of them forehands. Two more forehand errors gave Cornet a break chance which was saved by a Zidansek forehand winner. Finally two unforced Zidansek errors gave up the game to Cornet who now led 2-0.
Zidansek fought back in yet another protracted game, where Cornet saved four break points. Zidansek converted a fifth with a forehand winner and it was 2-1 to Cornet.
Game four - from 30-0 Zidansek fell in a screaming heap of unforced errors to drop serve once more.
This time, Cornet capitalised, holding serve comfortably, sealing it with a pair of winners. 4-1.
Cornet saved a break point and held serve to lead 5-2.
At 2-5 and 40-15, Zidansek produced three unforced errors and faced match point. She saved it with a forehand winner. Another match point arrived when Zidansek was forced into error. A double fault finished the match.
Alizé Cornet won 4-6 6-4 6-2, and booked a place in the round of sixteen for the second time, 13 years since the first.
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