Rezai opts out of two events after relative is banned

Paris:  Aravane Rezai has pulled out of France's Fed Cup tie and the Paris Open following the suspension of a family member by the WTA, the Frenchwoman said on Tuesday.

"Disagreements in the family are not uncommon and my family is still very important to me," Rezai said in a statement.

"[...] In agreement with my team, I have decided not to take part in the next Fed Cup tie and the Paris Open. I go on with my training programme and hope to get back to competition in the near future.

"Meanwhile, I ask the media to respect my private life as well as my family's."

France travel to Russia for a Fed Cup first round tie on February 5/6 with the Paris Open starting a day later.

Cause for concern

Australian police said on Monday they were investigating an incident which led to a member of Rezai's family being banned indefinitely from WTA events and which the tour described as a "serious safety matter".

The WTA, which runs the women's professional tour, issued a statement on Sunday regarding the banning of one of the members of her family.

"The health and wellbeing of our players is the number one priority for the WTA," it read.

"A serious safety matter has been brought to the WTA's attention, which has resulted in a family member of Aravane Rezai being indefinitely suspended from all future WTA events pending our investigation."

The 23-year-old Rezai had her breakthrough year in 2010, winning titles in Madrid and Bastad and ending the year in the top 20 in the world for the first time.