Asia Muhammad

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American Veteran Madison Brengle Top Seed at EPIC Central Coast Tennis Classic

Posted by Admin on September 16, 2022
Posted in: ATP. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Tickets Now on Sale For Women’s USTA Pro Circuit $60,000 Tournament Hosted by Templeton Tennis Ranch Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2022

Madision Brengle

TEMPLETON, Calif. – September 16, 2022 — Four players ranked among the top 115 in the world are among the solid field of WTA players ready to compete in the EPIC Central Coast Tennis Classic set for Sept. 26 through Oct. 2 at the Templeton Tennis Ranch.

Organizers of the Central Coast Tennis Classic – which recently announced new title sponsor EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants – released the names of the players expected to compete in the popular USTA Women’s $60,000 Pro Circuit Tournament, part of the ITF World Tour.

Madison Brengle, 32, from Dover, Del., is currently ranked No. 62 in the WTA World Tour rankings and is the highest seeded player on the entry list. A mainstay on the tour for the past 15 years, Brengle has gotten past the first round at each of the four Grand Slams, including her best showing in 2015 when she reached the Round of 16 at the Australian Open.

At the recent US Open, Brengle fell to No. 5 seed and eventual singles finalst Ons Jabeur, 7-5, 6-3 in the first round.

Right behind Brengle is China’s Lin Zhu, who is No. 69 in the world rankings and coming off a finals run in the Landisville, Pa., $100,000 event. Zhu’s Chinese countrywoman Yue Yuan is ranked No. 107 and will be the No. 3 seed.

Twenty-year-old fourth-year pro Katie Volynets will be seeded No. 4 and is ranked No. 113. Originally from Northern California, Volynets in April won the $100,000 US Pro Women’s Clay Court Championships.

Other Americans who have qualified for the main draw include 2018 Templeton Tennis Classic singles and doubles winner Asia Muhammad, who is currently ranked No. 30 in the world in doubles. Former UCLA All-American Robin Anderson, top-30 doubles player Caroline Dolehide and the event’s first singles winner in 2017 Sachia Vickery.

Templeton Tennis Ranch

Two players with Southern California ties are also into the main draw, including Katrina Scott, an 18-year-old from Woodland Hills who has won three 25Ks this year in Dallas, Columbus, Ohio and Daytona Beach, Fla., and Santa Barbara’s Kayla Day, a former world No. 1 ITF junior. 

Sophie Chang has been named the tournament’s singles wild card. Chang owns 16 career ITF doubles titles, and three in singles. Local Cal Poly doubles team Delanie Dunkle and younger sister Peyton Dunkle are the doubles wild cards.

Qualifying Americans in order of WTA rank include: Danielle Lao, Emina Bektas, Ashlyn Krueger, Grace Min, Whitney Osuigwe, Maria Mateas, Victoria Duval, Robin Montgomery, Alexa Glatch, Dalayna Hewitt, Maegan Manasse and Erica Oosterhout. In addition, recent US Open Girls’ Singles champion Alex Eala from the Philippines has received a wild card into singles qualifying.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.centralcoasttennisclassic.com/tickets/. Prices start at $10.

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Top American Women’s Players Ready To Return For Third Annual @USTA Central Coast Pro Tennis Open

Posted by Admin on September 5, 2019
Posted in: USTA, USTA Pro Circuit, WTA. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Asia Muhammad, 2019 US Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

Top American Women’s Players Ready To Return For Third Annual USTA Central Coast Pro Tennis Open

Templeton Tennis Ranch Will Also Host International WTA Players At USTA $60,000 Women’s Challenger Event Sept. 23-29

TEMPLETON, Calif. – Sept. 5, 2019 — The Central Coast Pro Tennis Open returns to the Templeton Tennis Ranch Sept. 23-29 with top American and international players competing for $60,000 in total prize money and valuable WTA World Tour ranking points.

The tournament is part of the USTA Competitive Pathway circuit. Qualifying matches begin on Monday, Sept. 23, with main-draw matches beginning the following day and concluding with the singles final on Sept. 29. Tickets for all the exciting tennis action are on sale now at http://www.my805tix.com.

The current US Open Grand Slam event taking place in New York was filled with former Central Coast Pro Tennis Open past winners and participants, including 2017 singles champion Sachia Vickery and last year’s singles and doubles winner Asia Muhammad.

The 2017 Central Coast Pro Open semifinalist Taylor Townsend shined brightest in New York as she beat former world No. 1 Simona Halep in reaching the Round of 16 at the year’s final Grand Slam. In addition, last year’s doubles semifinalist Kristie Ahn also made headlines as a wild card winning three rounds and making the final 16.

“It’s always fun to watch the US Open and check in on how our past players are doing,” said Ralph Goehring, CCPTO tournament director Templeton Tennis Ranch owner. “The Central Coast Pro Tennis Open is a unique and exciting weeklong event and our players each year comment about the beautiful area and the hospitality here. We can’t wait to once again host these world-class players.”

Last year, Muhammad, the Long Beach, Calif., native who calls Las Vegas home, won her seventh ITF singles title of her career and third in 2018. Muhammad also won the doubles title with longtime partner and former USC All-American Maria Sanchez.

The Central Coast Pro Tennis Open will attract more than 80 WTA players who are ranked from No. 100 to No. 350 in the world, along with their support teams and families.

This weekend, a wild-card tournament will take place at Templeton Tennis Ranch with a spot in singles qualifying and a main-draw doubles wild card up for grabs. In addition, the popular Battle in the Bay Tournament in San Francisco filled with rising college stars will award a main-draw singles wild card to the singles winner of the Battle in the Bay this weekend.

Local tennis enthusiasts and the general public are invited to enjoy seven days of professional tennis. The tournament will include a free Kid’s Day (Sunday, Sept. 22, 4-6 p.m.); a pro-am event (Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.) and other member social clinics. A Special Olympics demonstration will take place on Wednesday.

Sponsors include: Battle in the Bay Tournament, USTA Southern California, Tiebreaker Brewing Co., Sky River RV, Merrill Lynch – Blake Goehring, Medina Light Show Designs, The Groves on 41, Tennis Warehouse, Mitch & Theresa Scott, Sentinel Peak Resources, Green Energy Innovations, Tally Vineyards, South Paso Chevron, ColorCraft Printing, First American Title, Davis Auto Body, European Car Specialist, Designs in Life, Garcia Wealth Management, David Bolivar, The Margarita Man, KPRL 1230, Phil Keohen, Kinetix PT.

To follow all the action, go to the tournament website: http://www.ttrprotennis.com and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ttrprotennis. Follow the USTA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @USTA (#USTAProCircuit).

—S. Pratt

11 Americans on 4 Courts Looking for a Ticket to a @USOpen Qualifying Final Today

Posted by Admin on August 22, 2019
Posted in: ATP, New York, US Open, US Open Qualifying, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Asia Muhammad, 2019 US Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

11 Americans on 4 Courts Looking for a Ticket to a @USOpen Qualifying Final Today
Steve Fogleman in Queens

It’s last call to be a part of a dream-making Friday at the US Open where 16 men and 16 women will emerge from the hundreds of competitors who came for the very same thing. 11 Americans play on Thursday to attempt to join Taylor Townsend and one Jenson Brooksby as qualifying finalists.

Court 4 features Asia Muhammad against Bulgaria’s Isabella Shinkova. American Asia Muhammad faces #16 seed Barbara Krejcikova in the third and final match.

Caroline Dolehide takes on Australian Zoe Hives in the opener on Court 7 and 15-year-old Katrina Scott tries to stun the Russian Anna Kalinskaya in the third match.

Courts 11 and 12 boast an American player for every match. In one case, two compatriots will clash. Robin Anderson and Nicole Gibbs go head to head for the third time and Anderson holds the 2-1 head to head edge. Before the all-American match on Court 11, fans will look forward to perennial American qualifier Mitchell Krueger battle Egor Gerasimov followed by a bout between Hailey Baptiste and British talent Harriet Dart.

Home-grown pros Noah Rubin and Christina McHale are showcased on Court 12 today, after the opening match pitting American Varvara Lepchenko against Georgina Garcia Perez.

Top Seeds Advance at @Cville_USTA Boar’s Head Women’s Open

Posted by Admin on April 24, 2019
Posted in: ATP, Charlottesville, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Top Seeds Advance at Boar’s Head Women’s Open
Steve Fogleman, Tennis Atlantic

Charlottesville is free tennis. So I couldn’t say “free tennis!” today when all four of the opening matches of the day went the distance to three sets. Caty McNally messed with Francesca DiLorenzo’s mind today. The French and US Open junior doubles champion showed major league poise after a strong first set and getting bageled in the second. In a 15 minute game to open the third ser, Di Lorenzo held serve and I was certain that she would win the match. That’s why I don’t bet on tennis. McNally held serve and waited for DiLorenzo to make the errors. McNally is on to the next round to face Sesil Karatantcheva.

Caty McNally, 2019 Boar's Head Women's Open (Photo Credit: Christopher Levy)

Caty McNally (Photo Credit: Christopher Levy)

Louisa Chirico posted a serious comeback win today: Down 2-5 and a set, she forced a second set tiebreak before cruising through, 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-3 over wild card Natasha Subhash, who hadn’t played a match on clay in nearly seven months. Next up for Chirico is a date with 2018 finalist Anhelina Kalinina, a 6-2, 6-4 victor over Erin Routliffe.

Taylor Townsend was the late wild card and top seed and she delivered, besting Sanaz Marand 7-5, 6-1. Townsend and Caroline Dolehide will face off in a second round show of American firepower tomorrow.

Lucie Hradecka, with her protected ranking, didn’t look like much on paper coming into this event. After today’s 6-0, 6-1 drubbing of Australia’s Kim Birrell, she looks like a favorite to win this whole thing. But like I said, I don’t bet on tennis, so don’t blame me.

A Rare Singles Title for @BelindaBencic As She Wins @RedRockTennis

Posted by Admin on November 12, 2018
Posted in: Las Vegas, Red Rock Open, USTA Pro Circuit, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Belinda Bencic Beats Nicole Gibbs To Win Singles Title At Red Rock Pro Open

Muhammad Wins Hometown Event With Sanchez to Take 30th Career Pro Doubles Title

Belinda Bencic, 2018 Red Rock Open

SUMMERLIN, Nev. (Nov. 11, 2018) – Top-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland captured the 10th Annual Red Rock Pro Open singles title on Sunday with a, 7-5, 6-1, victory over Southern Californian Nicole Gibbs in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd at the Red Rock Country Club.

Bencic, who will have her 8 x 10 photo added to the club pro shop’s Wall of Champions, just last month reunited with her father as her lead coach, and Ivan Bencic looked on proudly as Bencic pocketed $12,161 for the win in the USTA Pro Circuit $80,000 tournament. Gibbs takes home $6,487.

Both players will next head to Houston for the season’s final tournament, a WTA $125,000-level event.

“I really enjoyed playing in Las Vegas and the crowds were so great all week,” Bencic said.

In the doubles final, Las Vegas’ Asia Muhammad and Maria Sanchez improved their record to 21-1 on the year as they beat fellow American’s Sophie Chang and Alexandra Mueller, 6-3, 6-4, to win the doubles title. While longtime partners Chang and Mueller end their year, Muhammad and Sanchez will look to end their year on a high note in Houston.

Nicole Gibbs, Mike Copenhaver, Belinda Bencic

Nicole Gibbs, Mike Copenhaver, Belinda Bencic

Gibbs certainly had her chances in the fourth set, but a lapse at the end of the first set led to losing nine points in a row. “I’d give myself a 2 out of 10,” Gibbs said in rating herself. “I played terrible.”

Bencic broke first to take a 3-1 lead, but Gibbs was able to get the break back and then at 4-all broke Bencic’s serve at love to serve for the set. Gibbs fell behind 0-30 on her serve and then double faulted for love-40 and lost the game at love for 5-all. She then preceded to lose the 11th game at love as Bencic got back on serve for 6-5.

Bencic held four set points before Gibbs hit a forehand that clipped the top of the net, came down and hit the net again before falling on Gibbs’ side ending the first set.

Bencic double faulted twice to give Gibbs the opening game of the second set, but then was able to turn up her game and cruise to the victory.

“I didn’t play my best today,” Gibbs said. “She was able to do some things to disrupt my momentum and change the pace and I wasn’t able to make the adjustments quickly enough.”

Gibbs recalled playing at the first Red Rock Pro Open as a 16-year-old junior back in 2009. She made it to the final round of qualifying in the inaugural event losing to Gabriela Paz of Venezuela. “I remember I had a three-hour match with my future Stanford teammate Kristie Ahn and won 7-6 in the third in the first round,” she said.

Muhammad, who reached the doubles quarterfinals of the 2016 US Open, has now won 30 career pro doubles titles, three coming on the WTA Tour and 27 now on the USTA Pro Circuit. She learned to play tennis at the Andre Agassi Boys and Girls Club in Las Vegas. Sanchez won her 21st doubles title on the USTA Pro Circuit.

Muhammad was the crowd favorite all week and said she enjoys coming back to play her local event each year. “We travel all over the world and see some amazing things, but to come back here and play in front of so many familiar faces is special,” she said.

Tournament director Mike Copenhaver said this was an historic year for the Red Rock Pro Open. “With it being the 10th anniversary, and part of the USTA Australian Open Wild Card Challenge, marquee night matches and our matches televised all week by Tennis Channel, it’s one that was written for the record books!”

—S. Pratt

 

 

Qualifiers Fill Out Main Draw @VolvoCarOpen Field of 56

Posted by Admin on April 2, 2017
Posted in: Charleston, Volvo Car Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Qualifiers Fill Out Main Draw @VolvoCarOpen Field of 56
Steve Fogleman, Tennis Atlantic

Aleksandra Krunic (TennisAtlantic.com)

Aleksandra Krunic (TennisAtlantic.com)

Asia Muhammad (TennisAtlantic,com)

Asia Muhammad (TennisAtlantic,com)

April 2–Two Americans joined the main draw today and six other qualifiers will compete for the Volvo Car Open title in Charleston, South Carolina. Asia Muhammad and Sofia Kenin won in straight sets, but the most compelling matches today had nothing to do with Americans. Veronica Cepede Royg, Aleksandra Krunic and Ana Bogdan all posted comeback wins after dropping the opening set against a lower-ranked player. As for Bogdan, her opponent was the returning Alexandra Dulgheru, so it was even more difficult. Cepede Royg played the longest match of the weekend in a 2:42 nailbiter, 2-6, 7-6(9), 6-4, while Krunic played the second longest match (2:24) and prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5).

Veronica Cepede Royg (TennisAtlantic.com)

Veronica Cepede Royg Photobomb (TennisAtlantic.com)

It’s the same thing I see every time: lower-ranked players only have a small hope of rolling through the match without awakening the beast on the other side of the net, usually without success.

Kenin’s straight sets victories over Taylor Townsend yesterday was no small feat. Today, she booked a trip to the 56 with straights over Frenchwoman Fiona Ferro. I’m very interested in her first round match against Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Sofia Kenin 2017 (TennisAtlantic.com)

Sofia Kenin 2017 (TennisAtlantic.com)

 
Qualifiers compete all weekend to qualify, so you must keep them playing continuously or they are apt to nap for days. Tomorrow, lucky loser Ons Jabeur gets Marina Erakovic, Ana Bogdan meets up with Jelena Ostapenko, Silvia Soler Espinosa plays Kristina Kucova, Anastasia Rodionova draws Ying-Ying Duan, Fanny Stollar and Asia Muhammad face each other, and lucky Veronica Cepede Royg meets hometown fave Shelby Rogers. The only qualifiers to get the day off are Sofia Kenin and Aleksandra Krunic.  Rest up!

 

 

 

 

 

More than Ever, Ready for Those Qualifying Finals @VolvoCarOpen

Posted by Admin on April 2, 2017
Posted in: Charleston, Volvo Car Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

Anastasia Rodionova, Charleston 2017 (TennisAtlantic.com)
Taylor Townsend, Charleston 2017 (TennisAtlantic.com)
Sofia Kenin, Charleston 2017 (TennisAtlantic.com)

I don’t think I love anything more than Charleston qualifying. It’s the unofficial beginning of my annual pro tennis tour and the baby sunburns I get in Charleston remind me of the scorching American hardcourt circuit ahead.

IMG_0380

Tena Lukas? As Donald Trump would say, “Who knew keeping up with the WTA could be so hard?” Yes it is, but the previously unknown to me Lukas exasperated an impressive early crowd, many of whom left after the first set in a 6-1, 6-1 destruction of Samantha Crawford which commenced the Americans woes yesterday. When I asked her if she liked the Charleston surface, she gave the predictable but extremely enthusiastic “I do now!” response.

IMG_0370

Only 3 Americans are left out of 11 in the first round of qualifying, but two emerged from All-American matches. There are players of 13 nationalities still vying for the 8 main draw spots to be awarded later today. Muhammad, Kenin and Min are your Americans on the march in qualifying.

Ana Bogdan, Charleston 2017 (TennisAtlantic.com)

Ana Bogdan, Charleston 2017 (TennisAtlantic.com)

Ana Bogdan was particularly animated after a 6-1, 6-0 55 minute slammer over Aleks Wozniack. Bogdan will play Romanian counterpart Alexandra Dulgheru in one of the final matches of the day. Speaking of Wozniak, I thought that the Canadian’s loss earlier in the day foreshadowed Caroline Wozniacki’s loss in Miami. I’m very superstitious that way. And Wozniak is showing such poor form that I expect little from her in the near future.

In the outdoor bar, I overheard one woman say, “but I do like Ted Cruz.” And I waited, but then she started onto something else. How was I to take this without context? It shall haunt me for time immemorial.

Draw Ceremony, Monica Puig, Charleston 2017 (TennisAtlantic.com)

Draw Ceremony, Monica Puig, Charleston 2017 (TennisAtlantic.com)

Now for the draw ceremony. First of all, why are we still picking poker chips out of buckets in the 21st century? Second, two kids in front of me were really mad that Shelby Rogers wasn’t at the draw ceremony. They didn’t seem to care less that an Olympic Gold Medalist was right in front of them. They wanted their darn Shelby.

Here’s your Order of Play for this Sunday, April 2, which is the laziest day of the tourney for the next 5 days. It’s a chance for organizers and volunteers to put in a rare 9-5 workday and a chance for me to move out of North Charleston and enjoy slightly more reasonable downtown hotel weekday rates. It’s going to be a great day.

VOLVO CAR OPEN – CHARLESTON, SC, USA
$776,000
APRIL 3 – 9, 2017

RESULTS – APRIL 1, 2017

Women’s
Qualifying Singles – First Round
Qualifying – S. Kenin (USA) d [1] T. Townsend (USA) 64 63
Qualifying – [2] S. Soler-Espinosa (ESP) d J. Elie (USA) 75 61
Qualifying – [3] A. Bogdan (ROU) d A. Wozniak (CAN) 61 60
Qualifying – [4] A. Krunic (SRB) d E. Halbauer (USA) 62 62
Qualifying – [5] O. Jabeur (TUN) d A. Hlavackova (CZE) walkover
Qualifying – [6] G. Min (USA) d [WC] M. Gordon (USA) 63 75
Qualifying – [7] V. Cepede Royg (PAR) d C. Dolehide (USA) 63 63
Qualifying – A. Rodionova (AUS) d [8] S. Vickery (USA) 63 63
Qualifying – [9] A. Muhammad (USA) d D. Jurak (CRO) 64 60
Qualifying – A. Dulgheru (ROU) d [10] L. Hradecka (CZE) 62 63
Qualifying – T. Lukas (CRO) d [11] S. Crawford (USA) 61 61
Qualifying – J. Maleckova (CZE) d [12] C. Burger (NED) 26 64 76(6)
Qualifying – F. Stollar (HUN) d [13] T. Pereira (BRA) 61 60
Qualifying – F. Ferro (FRA) d [14] M. Gonzalez (PAR) 46 60 76(4)
Qualifying – [15] S. Karatantcheva (BUL) d [WC] C. Morra (USA) 64 63
Qualifying – A. Carreras (GBR) d [16] J. Teichmann (SUI) 75 62

ORDER OF PLAY – SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2017
ALTHEA GIBSON CLUB COURT start 10:00 am
Qualifying – [2] S. Soler-Espinosa (ESP) vs T. Lukas (CRO)
Qualifying – S. Kenin (USA) vs F. Ferro (FRA)
Qualifying – [6] G. Min (USA) vs F. Stollar (HUN)

COURT 3 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – [7] V. Cepede Royg (PAR) vs A. Carreras (GBR)
Qualifying – A. Rodionova (AUS) vs [15] S. Karatantcheva (BUL)
Qualifying – [3] A. Bogdan (ROU) vs A. Dulgheru (ROU)

COURT 4 start 11:00 am
Qualifying – [4] A. Krunic (SRB) vs J. Maleckova (CZE)
Qualifying – [5] O. Jabeur (TUN) vs [9] A. Muhammad (USA)

Qualifying Finals Set @USOpen

Posted by Admin on August 26, 2016
Posted in: ATP, US Open, US Open Qualifying, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Qualifying Finals Set at 2016 US Open
Steve Fogleman, Tennis Atlantic

FullSizeRender (7)

Pegula

This is my favorite part of qualifying, when one match now stands between these players basking in the glory of participating in a grand slam main draw and getting a $43,300 check just for showing up at that match. In the past, a loss in qualifying meant very little in compensation. This year, the USTA increased the prize money so that qualifiers who make it to the third round receive over $10,000. Trust me, that money barely covers their expenses. To make for a very profitable trip to New York, you’ve got to qualify. And we’ve got 32 final money matches on tap today after we sorted the second round on Thursday in Flushing Meadows.

Court 5 was loaded with Americans on Thursday, but only one of them pulled through to the big money round. 14-year-old Amanda Anisimova showed poise in winning the second set against Japan’s Eri Hozumi, but the young American got a taste of future heartbreak when she set up a third set tiebreak only to lose it at 1. After the Anisimova match, Jesse Pegula took the court, and few would have guessed that her straight sets win over An-Sophie Mestach would be the sole American victory on that court. Ilya Ivashka bested Ryan Shane, France’s Myrtille Georges shocked Melanie Oudin in a rain-punctuated affair and Reilly Opelka was forced to retire in the third set against Santiago Giraldo.

Pegula was satisfied with her win today, after losing to Mestach recently. “I’m feeling really good. I thought today was a really good win. I knew I was going to have to be mentally tough today, given the conditions and because I lost to her a few weeks ago,” she said. After a rough start to the year, she made the semis at Citi Open last month. “I don’t know what it is, maybe I just warm up by this time of year”, she joked. “I’m excited and have a lot more tournaments after this too, and excited to end this year with some good momentum.”

Today, she’ll try to qualify for the event for the second consecutive year. “Qualifying, I would say, is so tough. I almost think it’s tougher than if you were playing in the main draw because obviously everyone is so hungry. Everyone wants to do well and it’s such a big stage”, she said.

Asia Muhammad also had a statement win to stay alive for Friday’s big money round with a 6-2, 6-2 knockout of Cindy Burger.

IMG_5261

Muhammad

There’s no exhaustion on her part during this qualifying marathon. “I actually feel better than I did after the first (qualifying) match”, she told us. On the rigors and advantages of qualifying, she agreed with Pegula. “If you can qualify, I think it’s nice getting into the main draw having some matches under your belt, getting used to the court, so I actually think it can you help you sometimes when you’re playing someone who hasn’t even played a match yet”.

By my count, there are only two players staying at my hotel, Myrtille Georges and Viktoriya Tomova. Both players are little known in these parts, and both of them are still standing. If they both win today, I’m crediting it to the legit massage parlor downstairs and the fabulous breakfast on the rooftop and inviting Melanie Oudin to stay here next year.

‘Wimbledon West’ Tuesday @PartyRockOpen

Posted by Admin on September 23, 2013
Posted in: Las Vegas, Party Rock Open, USTA, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

WIMBLEDON WEST ON DISPLAY TUESDAY AT PARTY ROCK OPEN

Photo credit: Craig Glover

Photo credit: Craig Glover

Local Asia Muhammad Has Chance To Qualify For Main Draw

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 23, 2013) – The Party Rock Open main draw kicks off on Tuesday under the lights featuring a slew of players with impressive Wimbledon credentials. Two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist Tamira Paszek will get the night-match action started at 6 p.m. on stadium court versus 2012 Party Rock Open semifinalist Adriana Perez from Venezuela.

Tamira Paszek, 2013 US Open

Tamira Paszek, 2013 US Open

That match will be followed by Wimbledon upset specialist Michelle Larcher de Brito, who earlier this year shocked world No. 3 Maria Sharapova in the second round at Wimbledon in straight sets.

Michelle Larcher DeBrito (Photo: Rick Limpert)

Michelle Larcher DeBrito (Photo: Rick Limpert)

In addition, the day session (starting at noon) at Darling Tennis Center will see two former Wimbledon semifinalists, Mirjana Lucic and Alexandra Stevenson. Lucic will take on Chanel Simmonds from South Africa, while Stevenson does battle against young American Grace Min.

Paszek upset former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the first round last year at Wimbledon. Her losses in the quarterfinals in 2011 and 2012 both came at the hands of Victoria Azarenka, another former world No. 1.

Monday at the Party Rock Open saw local star Asia Muhammad advance to the final round of qualifying. Muhammad, whose brother Shabazz was recently drafted No. 14 in the NBA first-round, will compete for a spot in the main draw on Tuesday afternoon.

Muhammad, the No. 4-seed, beat Piia Suomalainen of Finland, 6-2, 6-1. Later in the day, Muhammad was also named the top-seeded player in the main draw doubles. Meanwhile, Henderson 17-year-old Gabby Smith fell to Denise Muresan, 6-1, 6-2. Smith is headed to USC next fall on a full tennis scholarship.

The Party Rock Open is Las Vegas’ only professional tennis tournament, and is named for LMFAO’s Redfoo and his Party Rock franchise’s title sponsorship. The Party Rock Open is Presented by ProtectYourBubble.com, an award-winning gadget insurance company.

The event is a USTA $50,000 Pro Circuit women’s tournament with a 32-player field in singles and 16 doubles teams.

Main-draw wild cards include Americans Allie Will, Julie Boserup, Stevenson and Elizabeth Lumpkin.

Qualifying second-round singles match results from Monday:
Allie Kiick (US) [2] def. Macall Harkins (US) 6-3, 6-2
Denise Muresan (US) def. Gabby Smith (US) [wc] 6-1, 6-2
Jacqueline Cako (US) def. Jillian O’Neill (CAN) 7-6 (7), 3-6, 7-5
Lauren Embree (US) def. Ulrikke Eikeri (NOR) [6] 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-2
Tori Kinard (US) def. Jan Abaza (US) 6-3, 6-1
Brianna Morgan (US) def. Christina Makarova (US) [wc] 6-3, 6-2
Asia Muhammad (US) [4] def. Piia Suomalainen (FIN) def. 6-2, 6-1
Sanaz Marand (US) [3] def. Aleksanda Josifoska (MKD) [wc] 6-2, 6-2

Tusday’s Matches:
Stadium Court, starting at Noon
wc: wild card; q: qualifying; WSQ: women’s singles qualifying
Mayo Hibi (JPN) vs. vs. Sesil Karatantcheva (KAZ) [7]
Followed by (WSQ) Asia Muhammad (US) [4] vs. Brianna Morgan (US)
Followed by Samantha Crawford (US) / Sachia Vickery (US) vs. Anamika Bhargava (US) / Lenka Wienerova (SVK)
Not before 6 p.m.
Adriana Perez (VEN) vs. Tamira Paszek (AUT)
Elizabeth Lumpkin (US) vs. Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) [2]

Court 11, starting at Noon
(WSQ) Jacqueline Cako, (US), vs. Lauren Embree (US)
Followed by Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) [3] vs. Chanel Simmonds (RSA)
Ulrikke Eikeri (NOR) / Mayo Hibi (JPN) vs. Melanie Oudin (US) / Taylor Townsend (US)

Court 10, starting at Noon
Allie Kiick (2), U.S., vs. Denise Muresan (US)
Followed by Grace Min (US) [5] vs. Alexandra Stevenson (US) [wc]
Followed by Macall Harkins (US) / Sanaz Marand (US) vs. Jan Abaza (US) / Louisa Chirico (US)

Court 8, starting at Noon
(WSQ) Sanaz Marand (US) [3] vs. Tori Kinard (US)
Followed by Amra Sadikovic (SUI) vs. Julia Boserp (US) [wc]
Followed by Anna Tatishvili (GEO) / Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) vs. Jacqueline Cako (US) / Natalie Pluskota (US) [3]

The tournament’s official website is http://www.partyrockopen.com. Follow along on Twitter @partyrockopen and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/partyrockopen.com.