Aravane Rezaï

Aravane Rezaï (Persian: ارغوان رضایی‎‎ Arghavān-e Rezāyi Persian pronunciation: [æɾɣævɒːn(-e) ɾezɒːjiː], born 14 March 1987) is a professional Iranian–French tennis player. She has defeated many top players on the WTA circuit, such as Justine Henin, Venus Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, Dinara Safina, Francesca Schiavone, Caroline Wozniacki, Marion Bartoli, Flavia Pennetta, Jelena Janković and Ai Sugiyama. Her career high rank was No. 15, achieved on 11 October 2010.

Personal life

Rezaï was born to Iranian parents in Saint-Étienne, France. She took up tennis after a childhood stint as her older brother's ball girl.

Career

2001 & 2005

Rezaï competed for Iran at the Women's Islamic Games, winning gold in 2001 and 2005.

Rezaï is now based in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. She also won the Chambon sur Lignon open in 2004.

2006

Rezaï started playing for France. For the second year in a row, Rezaï lost in the qualifying rounds of the Australian Open. However, her French Open run was more successful. She struggled through to the third round of the tournament, defeating Ai Sugiyama of Japan along the way. She fell to Nicole Vaidišová, in a hard fought three-setter. Her Wimbledon dreams were also put on hold as she fell in the first round of qualifying. At the 2006 US Open, she reached the fourth round, her career best Grand Slam singles result.