Player of the week: Aravane Rezai

Despite being one of the latest players to qualify, 22 years old French player Aravane Rezai surprised everyone as she became the first champion of the new WTA Tournament of Champions that was held in Bali last week.


Rezai started the tournament losing the first set to 4th seed and WTA #25 Sabine Lisicki by 6/1, but she came back to win the match. And in fact this was the only set she lost throughout the week. She secured her place in the semifinals defeating WTA #38 Melinda Czink in straight sets. In the semifinals she overcame doubles Championship winner and WTA #30 Maria Jose Martinez. But the final was going to be a much tougher test, as she was facing 1st seed and WTA #12 Marion Bartoli. Rezai won the 1st set by 7/5 and benefited of Bartoli's retirement due to quadriceps strain.


This is biggest career title for Rezai, who this week reaches her career best ranking at #26.