Rezai wins in Strasbourg for first title

STRASBOURG, France, May 23 (UPI) -- Aravane Rezai of France posted a straight-set victory over Czech Lucie Hradecka Saturday to win the Strasbourg International women's tennis event.

Rezai had a 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 victory for her first career WTA singles crown. Her best previous finishes were as the runner-up at Istanbul in 2007 and last year in Auckland.

After rallying from a 3-5 deficit to win the first set in a tiebreaker, Rezai lost the opening game of the second set before running off six games in a row.

Rezia, ranked 79th in the world, became the first Frenchwoman to win this title. She will open against Japan's Ai Sugiyama in the first round of the French Open next week.

Hradecka, ranked 84th, was also trying for her first career WTA singles crown. She was runner-up in Bad Gastein, Austria, last year