Rezaei backs Iran women’s tennis to make strides with greater ambition
Iran women’s national tennis team head coach Arghavan Rezaei believes a bright future awaits her players, urging them to train with greater commitment and set clear goals despite her short time in charge.
Speaking to IRNA on Monday, Rezaei reflected on her brief stint in Iran and the team’s experience at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, where she said competing against some of the continent’s leading players had posed a major challenge for the Iranian representatives.
“It was difficult for our players because some of the prominent names in Asian tennis were competing and demonstrated a much higher level,” she said.
Rezaei added that Iran’s players had faced opponents ranked among the world’s top 100, describing the experience as beneficial for the development of tennis in the country.
“Success in elite sport is a continuous process that requires steady progress. However, we have already conveyed to the players that they need to work harder and set clear, specific goals for themselves.
“From what I have seen of women’s tennis in Iran, I believe the players can succeed if they work harder. Another important point is that Iranian women’s tennis players need to compete abroad and face Asian and international opponents,” she added.
Turning her attention to the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup competition in Islamabad, Pakistan, Rezaei said Iran would be aiming to win the title.
Iran are currently the top seeds in their group and will face Pakistan, the Maldives, Guam, Qatar, Macau, Bahrain, Jordan, Bhutan and Kuwait in Group II, with matches scheduled to take place in Islamabad from October 19 to 24.