Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki dumped out by Aravane Rezai in 1st round

Defending champ Wozniacki eliminated by Rezai

EASTBOURNE, England — Aravane Rezai of France defeated defending champion Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in the first round of the Eastbourne International on Tuesday.

Rezai’s aggressive play helped her overcome blustery conditions in the Wimbledon warmup being played on grass.

Fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska also was beaten, the 2008 champion losing 7-6 (2), 6-1 to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

The top-seeded Wozniacki failed to convert two break points to go 4-2 ahead in the first set. Rezai then broke for 5-4, when Wozniacki netted a forehand, and served out for the set.

Rezai squandered three break points at the start of the second set, before Wozniacki broke for 2-0 when her opponent double-faulted. A crosscourt forehand winner then gave the Danish player a second break for 5-1 and she clinched the set to love.

Rezai earned the only break of the third set at 3-2 by forcing a backhand error from Wozniacki.