Larcher de Brito

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‘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.

US Open Doubles Champ Andrea Hlavackova Headlines @PartyRockOpen

Posted by Admin on September 14, 2013
Posted in: Pro Circuit, USTA, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

US OPEN DOUBLES CHAMP ANDREA HLAVACKOVA HEADLINES FIFTH ANNUAL USTA $50,000 PRO CIRCUIT WOMEN’S EVENT
DSCN9800

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 14, 2013) – Yeah, Baby! The Party Rock Open is back!

The fifth annual USTA $50,000 Pro Circuit women’s event in Las Vegas will return Sept. 23-29 to the Darling Tennis Center, formerly the host site for the ATP Tennis Channel Open.

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. LMFAO was recently nominated for a Grammy Award, and Redfoo has been linked to U.S. Open Finalist Victoria Azarenka.

This year’s tournament features an impressive global player field. Top seed Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic will be making her Party Rock Open debut fresh off capturing the U.S. Open Women’s and Mixed doubles titles.

Another force to be reckoned with is Tamira Paszek from Austria, who reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2012.

Tamira Paszek, 2013 US Open

Tamira Paszek, 2013 US Open

Other notable entrants include Eleni Daniilidou from Greece, winner of five WTA singles titles during her career; Portugese star Michelle Larcher De Brito, who upset Maria Sharapova this summer at Wimbledon; budding American talent Taylor Townsend, the 2012 Australian Open junior champion; and Melanie Oudin, who made a memorable run to the U.S. Open quarterfinals in 2009 as a 17-year-old.

Michelle Larcher de Brito

Michelle Larcher de Brito

Girls’ 18s U.S. National Champion Sachia Vickery, who advanced to the second round at this year’s U.S. Open as a wild card, leads the list of qualifying players.

Other qualifiers include 2012 US Open junior champ Samantha Crawford, Las Vegas’ Asia Muhammad, and Allie Kiick, the daughter of former Miami Dolphins running back Jim Kiick.

The Party Rock Open has served as a showcase for emerging stars during its tenure in Las Vegas, and counts several alumni in the top 50 in the world, including top Jamie Hampton, Sorana Cirstea, and U.S. Olympian Varvara Lepchenko.

“There is no doubt that the next great generation of players will once again be on display at the Party Rock Open,” said Co-Tournament Director Jordan Butler, who also noted that the night matches at Darling create a spectacular setting for fans.

Added tournament founder Tyler Weekes: “It’s time to Party Rock, Vegas pro tennis style.”

Qualifying action begins Sunday, Sept. 22, and is free of charge to attend. Monday, Sept. 23, is also free to the public.

Las Vegas area youth are also encouraged to attend the tournament’s annual Kids’ Day on Sunday, which will feature free tennis clinics, games, and more.

The Party Rock Open is Presented by Protect Your Bubble.com, an award-winning gadget insurance company.

Premier sponsors include: BILT by Agassi and Reyes, Newcastle Brown Ale, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Cox Communications, WG Communications Group, ESPN 1100, Lotus Broadcasting, http://www.10sBalls.com, USTA-Nevada, Court Think, LLC, and Agent Atleta, LLC.

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.

—Steve Pratt

One on One Video Interview With Michelle Larcher de Brito at Citi Open in Washington

Posted by Admin on July 28, 2013
Posted in: Citi Open, Washington, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

One on One Video: Michelle Larcher de Brito After Qualifying at Citi Open in Washington

Michelle Larcher de Brito had a tough three set win over rising American Victoria Duval in final round qualifying at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C earlier today. The sticky humidity was definitely a factor. I discovered that her parents travel with her everywhere. She also discusses the recent press attention after her upset win over Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon last month, her fans, her grunting and her disappearance from twitter in this lightning-round interview.

On the heat: “It’s definitely really hot. Since Day 1, I’ve been struggling a little bit with the heat and I’ve been feeling tired. Vicky played a great match and I’m just lucky I got through”.

Michelle and Father

Michelle and Father

On Family: “My family’s always been there since day one for me and my dad’s always been my coach. He’s always been there through the good times and the bad times.”

On her fans: “They inspire me big-time. When I’m feeling down or not feeling great, I want to do better for them because so many people look up to me. I feel really special that people look up to me. When I’m feeling down and I hear someone cheering me on the court, it makes me feel that much better and makes me want to do better.”

I mentioned pulling the plug on all that noise on social media since her Wimbledon win over Sharpova, but I think she meant I wanted to talk about grunting.

On twitter: “I did have an account but I closed the account. I did it for fun and I enjoyed it. Now I know what it’s about. I kind of got bored with it. There’s no privacy. Maybe one day I’ll get it back.”

Toronto and US Open Qualifying await after her main draw business is concluded in Washington. She faces Madison Keys in the first round.

Michelle Larcher De Brito

—Steve Fogleman