WIMBLEDON WEST ON DISPLAY TUESDAY AT PARTY ROCK OPEN
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.
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.
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.