ALIZE Cornet wasn’t planning on getting so close and personal with Caroline Garcia. After all, the pair have a history.

The stage was set for a frosty encounter between the two Frenchwomen in the round of 16 in Paris as they played off for a berth in the French Open quarter-finals.

Previously Fed Cup teammates, their relationship had soured after Garcia announced at the end of last season she wouldn’t be making herself available for France’s 2017 Fed Cup campaign.

Cornet, along with countrywomen Kristina Mladenovic and Pauline Parmentier, tweeted “LOL” (laugh out loud) in response to Garcia’s decision. Mladenovic even ended her doubles partnership with Garcia.

Just days ago the 23-year-old revealed she didn’t receive any apology from Cornet.

“I received a text message but no apologies. She said she was still standing by her tweets, so I consider that it doesn’t mean anything then,” Garcia told Reuters.

Cornet revealed the two weren’t on speaking terms.

“I think that the relationship is not very good. I think she may have a grudge against us, so she’s not ready to talk with me, so I don’t think that it will be good to talk to her, because we are playing against each other,” Cornet said.

“But one day I hope that she will tell me.”

Garcia emerged from her clash against Cornet on the clay of Roland Garros with bragging rights, advancing to the quarter-finals courtesy of a 6-2 6-4 victory. While nerves played a part as both women sought their best performance at a grand slam, the big serve and powerful forehand of Garcia ultimately proved too much for her compatriot to handle.

When Cornet couldn’t get a forehand back into play at the end of a lengthy rally to hand Garcia the win, the pair met at the net. While it’s normal for female players to kiss each other on the cheek after a match, given the tension between the two crowd favourites, few were expecting what happened next.

They both gave each other two kisses and appeared to bury the hatchet, which as well as being a surprise to those watching on in the stands, also came as a shock to Cornet.

“It was the coldest kiss I had in my life, but it was a kiss,” Cornet said. “I was not expecting that she wanted to give me a kiss, and I liked it.

“I mean, it was good to finish on this note — I wouldn’t have liked just a handshake, like very cold. I’m not this kind of person. I’m a very nice person. I don’t like the conflict, so I told her good luck, and I mean it.”

Garcia said she didn’t plan the moment, but just wanted to concentrate on being a professional rather than wasting energy thinking about the pair’s feud.

“Everyone was waiting for a very cold match and everyone was — I’m sure that everyone looked at this match to see how it was going to happen,” Garcia said. “Everyone was surprised.

“Maybe it’s going to be a battle or whatever. But I just tried to stay like a professional player. I play tennis because I enjoy it, and I don’t want to get into any fights with anyone. What happened, happened. We never forget about it. Tennis is a game. I play to enjoy, and that’s it.

“Honestly, this was not prepared ... I shook her hand and then I think I kissed her.

“Once again, this is a tennis match, and I wanted to be professional, play my match and not pay attention to all these other things. But I knew people were eager. People were very impatient. There were a lot of expectations.”

Garcia becomes the second Frenchwoman into the last eight, joining Mladenovic. She will play world No. 3 Karolina Pliskova, who overcame a scare against unheralded Veronica Cepede Royg of Paraguay, for a spot in the final four.

Simona Halep stormed past Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 6-1 to book her spot in the quarters, where she’ll face Elina Svitolina. Mladenovic plays Timea Bacsinszky and Carolina Wozniacki plays Jelena Ostapenko in the other matches.