World No.18 tennis player Alize Cornet has poured out her heart in the wake of the recent terrorist attack in France, urging people to stay united in the face of growing violence around the world.

Cornet learned of the deadly attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo while representing France at the Hopman Cup in Perth on Wednesday night.

Ten journalists and two police officers were killed when masked attackers opened fire at the magazine’s Paris headquarters.

Cornet returned to the Perth Arena court on Friday with the message “JE SUIS CHARLIE” (I am Charlie) taped to her bag in tribute to those murdered in the attack.

The 24-year-old then drew on all of her spirit to produce a 6-4 2-6 7-5 win over world No.5 Agnieszka Radwanska, with the last set alone lasting 73 minutes.

After the match, an emotional Cornet laid her feelings bare when asked about the tragedy in her homeland.

“I learned about it during Benoit Paire’s singles match two days ago. I was horrified. I was so shocked and very emotional about it,” Cornet said.

“These people that they killed, it is kind of the patrimony of France. It is the people that you know so well. You have the feeling they are part of your family.

“Twelve people dead, and all this violence … it touches the whole world and the whole of humanity, and we really have to be strong and stand up.

“I will need some time to be over it, because right now it really touches me and I know it is the same for all French people.”

Cornet said the message on her bag inspired her throughout her epic win over Radwanska, which she rated as one of the best of her career.

“Each time I was going to my chair at the changeover I was seeing the message and it was coming to my mind,” Cornet said.

“I was thinking, ‘You are here, you have the chance to do what you like and play in front of this amazing crowd, so just have fun and give everything and try to win for them’.

“It is a good thing, because I can bring this message even more (to people) when I win this match.

“For me it is very important, because we have to be conscious that what happened is really, really bad and that we have to stay strong.”