Sandy Pramuji

Aravane Rezai of France serves in her match against Hungary's Melinda Czink during the second day of the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions at the Bali International Convention Center. (Photo: Made Nagi, EPA)

Rising French Tennis Star Books Semifinal Berth in Bali

Nusa Dua, Bali. Belying the stereotype about her country and its penchant for surrender, Aravane Rezai showed why she is considered France’s next great hope in women’s tennis.

Rezai, 22, staged an eye-catching comeback during the second day of the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions, rallying from behind in each set of her 6-3, 7-5 defeat of Hungary’s Melinda Czink. Thursday’s Group D victory at the Bali International Convention Center in Nusa Dua confirmed the Frenchwoman’s place in the semifinals. It also eliminated Germany’s Sabine Lisicki, who lost 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Rezai on Wednesday, from semifinal contention.

Rezai came back from 2-0 down to take the first set, but that was nothing compared to her second-set rally. Czink led 5-1 and needed one break to take the match to a third set, but the world No. 44 fought back to hold serve and broke her opponent in the next game.

“It was pretty tough, a very difficult set,” Rezai said. “But after 5-1, I said, ‘OK, I have nothing to lose and it’s better to fight.’ ”

As it turned out, that nothing-to-lose mind-set was just what she needed.

“[Czink] got nervous because she saw that I was present on the court and still fighting,” Rezai said. “I knew she was not that strong. I took my chance to improve my game and continued to win.” To her credit, Czink owned up to not finishing the job.

“[Rezai] played tough. She hung in there while I got tired and choked,” the world No. 38 said.

Magdalena Rybarikova and Agnes Szavay also fell out of title contention after suffering their second losses of the tournament.

Rybarikova lost 6-1, 7-6 (4) to Shahar Peer of Israel in Group A, while Szavay fell 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 to Spain’s Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in Group B.

“I’m happy I managed to find a way to win this match in two sets, because it could’ve gone easily to a third set,” Peer said.

“I think I played very smart today. I did the right thing. I was serving well, returning pretty well,” she added.

Peer plays top seed Marion Bartoli today with a semifinal place on the line, while Martinez Sanchez takes on No. 2 seed Samantha Stosur of Australia.

Thursday’s other match, Anabel Medina Garrigues vs. Kimiko Date-Krumm, finished after press time.

Only the winner of each group advances to the semifinals, and regardless of who fills the other three places, they face a daunting prospect in trying to get past France’s rising star.

“I have nothing to lose. I really enjoy playing, and it doesn’t matter who is going to be in the semifinals. I want to play more here,” Rezai said.

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