Aravane Rezai

Aravane Rezaï is a French-Iranian professional tennis player who achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 15. She has defeated many top players on the WTA Tour, including Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Justine Henin.

Her career is notable for its controversies, including her father's alleged abusive behavior and a ban imposed by the WTA.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Aravane Rezaï was born on March 14, 1987, in Saint-Étienne, France, to Iranian parents. She took up tennis after serving as a ball girl for her older brother. She stands 165 cm tall and she plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand. She currently resides in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Rezaï's father, Arsalan, was also her coach, and his controversial and allegedly violent training methods, which included hitting her with a racquet and threatening her boyfriend, led to the WTA indefinitely banning him from the tour in 2011.

Rezaï, however, has stated that she is proud of her father's dedication.

Professional Career

Rezaï started her professional career representing Iran before switching to France in 2005. She achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 15 in October 2010.

She has won four singles titles on the WTA Tour, including her biggest career title at the Madrid Open in 2010. During her career, she defeated three former World No. 1 players in a single tournament: Justine Henin, Jelena Janković, and Venus Williams.

Her best Grand Slam singles results were reaching the fourth round of the French Open in 2009 and the US Open in 2006. She also reached the third round of the Australian Open in 2008 and Wimbledon in 2007.

Rezaï's professional career was also marked by her political support for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and her participation in the Women's Islamic Games, where she won two gold medals while representing Iran.

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 315–231
• Career titles: 4
• Highest ranking: No. 15 (October 11, 2010)
• Current ranking: No. 661 (September 11, 2025)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – 3R (2008)
• French Open – 4R (2009)
• Wimbledon – 3R (2007)
• US Open – 4R (2006)

Doubles

• Career record: 9–29
• Career titles: 0
• Highest ranking: No. 118 (March 9, 2009)

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – 1R (2007, 2008, 2010)
• French Open – 3R (2008)
• Wimbledon – 2R (2008, 2010)
• US Open – 2R (2008)

Team competitions

• Fed Cup – 2–2 (W–L)