Chardy, Rezai given Australian Open wild cards

Melbourne: French players Jeremy Chardy and Aravane Rezai have been given wild cards into the Australian Open under a reciprocal agreement between the French Tennis Federation and Tennis Australia.

Tennis Australia said in a statement Saturday said the French federation selected Chardy and Rezai and, as part of the agreement, two Australian players will be invited to compete at the French Open in May. Rezai, a former No. 15, made the third round in Melbourne in 2008 and Chardy reached a career-high ranking of 31 in 2009. Americans Jesse Levine and Madison Keys were earlier awarded wild cards under a similar arrangement between Tennis Australia and the USTA. The Australian Open begins Jan. 16 at Melbourne Park. Bureau Report