Elina Avanesyan Hosts Exhibition Match & Meet-and-Greet with Armenian Diaspora in Los Angeles
Elina Avanesyan Says Serena Williams Is Her Favorite Tennis Player and She’s a Lucky Woman To Be Married to an Armenian Man
This past weekend, Los Angeles welcomed Armenia’s rising tennis star, Elina Avanesyan, for a special meet-and-greet event with fans and aspiring young athletes. Avanesyan, currently ranked 36th in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) world rankings, took time to engage with the Armenian community.
As part of her visit, Avanesyan participated in an interactive session with young players from the Ararat Tennis Program, offering them an opportunity to hit some balls with her. The event also featured an exhibition match, where Avanesyan showcased her skills alongside two other promising Armenian tennis players, Kristina Nordikyan and Tiffany Papazian. The friendly competition showed the depth of talent within the Armenian tennis community and was as an inspiration to future generations.
In an exclusive interview, Avanesyan shared her admiration for legendary tennis icon Serena Williams. When reminded that Williams is married to an Armenian man, Alexis Ohanian, Avanesyan responded with enthusiasm, saying, “She is a lucky woman to be married to an Armenian man.”
The event was made possible through the collaboration of Homenetmen Glendale Ararat and the Keron Development Foundation. Their joint efforts gave a platform for Armenian youth to connect with Avanesyan and witness firsthand the dedication and passion required to compete at the highest level. The event was held at Burbank Tennis Center and the owner of the center Steve Starleaf was present himself.
Serving as the Master of Ceremonies was The Armenian Report’s Anna Kachikyan, a former tennis player who developed a love for the sport at the age of seven in Yerevan. Her deep connection to tennis and Armenian heritage made her an ideal host for this special occasion.
Avanesyan also spoke highly of the Keron Development Foundation, the organization that played a crucial role in helping her become an Armenian citizen and continues to support her professional tennis career. Keron’s mission extends beyond individual success; it aims to inspire and nurture the next generation of Armenian tennis players, ensuring that more young talents have the opportunity to follow in Avanesyan’s footsteps.
Her visit to Los Angeles was not just a celebration of her achievements but also a moment of unity and motivation for the Armenian community. Avanesyan’s dedication to representing Armenia on the world stage serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring athletes, reinforcing the belief that with hard work and perseverance, dreams can indeed become a reality.
About Elina Avanesyan
Avanesyan was born September 17, 2002 in Pyatigorsk, Russia, to an Armenian family. Her parents are from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and moved to Russia in 1992 during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. She has a brother and a sister. In June 2024, it was announced that Avanesyan had begun the process of applying for Armenian citizenship and planned to compete under the flag of Armenia. She had previously competed in several junior tournaments in the Armenian capital Yerevan, winning four of them. In August 2024, Avanesyan became an Armenian citizen and began representing Armenia on the international tennis stage.
Since turning professional, Avanesyan has made significant strides in her career. In 2023, she reached the fourth round of the French Open, becoming the first lucky loser at Roland Garros in 35 years to advance that far. In 2024, she secured her first top-10 win at the Australian Open by defeating Maria Sakkari and reached her first WTA final at the Iași Open. By the end of 2024, she had solidified her position within the top 50 rankings.
Avanesyan’s journey continued into 2025, where she became the first Armenian player to reach a WTA 500 semifinal at the Mérida Open, marking another historic milestone in her career. With her determination and skill, she has quickly become one of Armenia’s most promising sports figures.
