michelle larcher de brito

All posts tagged michelle larcher de brito

Day 2 Qualifying Report From @RolandGarros 2015

Posted by Admin on May 20, 2015
Posted in: French Open, Guest Writer, On Site, Roland Garros. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Day 2 Qualifying Report From Roland Garros 2015
Stefano Berlincioni for Tennis Atlantic

What a long day once again! As tennis was played at Roland Garros for over 12 hours on court from 10 am to 9.30 pm when last match was suspended due to darkness.

I will begin by discussing a match played at the end of the day: Andrea Arnaboldi – Pierre-Hugues Herbert has been (and still is!) a pretty epic match. Arnaboldi started playing great attacking tennis (*5-2 up), I left on 6-4 and it was clear that the Frenchman had stepped up his level. I came back later on 5-5 third set and players kept holding quite easily. Arnaboldi missed a really feasible passing shot when he had the one and only match point. Match will be resumed tomorrow from 15-14 Arnaboldi.

I didn’t watch many other men’s matches, just the end of Norbert Gombos-Yoshihito Nishioka (The Japanese saved 2 mps, the second one with an incredible dropshot, and after that Gombos lost his compsure, and the match in abrupt fashion),  and the third set of Radu Albot- Liam Broady with the Moldavian being more consistent and pulling out a win. I also caught the the end of Aleksandr Nedovyesov-Yuki Bhambri, as Bhambri won again, forcing his opponent to play too many risky shots.

Nishioka d. Gombos 2-6 6-2 8-6
Albot d. Broady 6-7 7-6 6-2
Bhambri d. Nedovyesov 6-3 3-6 9-7

Luca Vanni against Thomas Fabbiano was a strange match, until the beginning of second set Fabbiano looked like he would bet the winner, but then some clouds helped Vanni, because without the sun he looked fresher, and started playing more aggressive. Fabbiano was just defending and Vanni had an easy time winning the match from a set down.

Vanni d. Fabbiano 3-6 6-3 6-2

I don’t follow WTA that much but I know women’s tennis is famous for being full of drama, and today we had at least two epic matches.

First one was Michelle Larcher De Brito against Clothilde De Bernardi. I admit that I went to this match just because some Portuguese fans asked me on Twitter. To my pleasant surprise it was a great match with both players hitting hard and looking for winners! I didn’t expect De Bernardi being so good and I thought she was done when she went from *2-1 40-15 to 2-4 during third set. The great support fo the public helped the Frenchwoman who refused to give up and managed to go *5-4 up when it started raining. Larcher De Brito was desperate for the De Bernardi comeback and started crying, asking the umpire to stop the match for the rain. The umpire rejected her request and a few seconds later the Portuguese woman was crying again but going off the court.

De Bernardi d. De Brito 4-6 6-2 6-4

While I was watching Vera Dushevina against Jelean Ostapenko I heard a rumour of racquet breaks, I turned on the next court and I saw the score Paula Kania-Alla Kudryavsteva 7-5 0-0 15-0

I noticed a racquet broken

so I understood the Russian had a penalty point. My interest in this match suddenly raised and it was a real drama, with Kudryavtseva complaining loudly with herself and then crying

Kania obviously won and here is a short video that shows how that happened

Kania d. Kudryavtseva 7-5 6-4

Earlier I watched Anett Kontaveit against Kat Stewart and I have to say I was very very impressed by the Estonian Kontaveit. She has stunning power and Stewart was outplayed there. When I was on the stands I heard a guy telling to Kontaveit’s coach “It’s over” on 6-3 3-0, the coach replied “Never say that!”. That was pure jinxing because Stewart fought and came back but Kontaveit managed to win the second set tiebreak.

Kontaveit d. Stewart 6-3 7-6

I watched also first set of the 16 yo Tessah Andrianjafitrimo and the girl has been quite impressive: short and with a pretty weak serve but she moves very well and from baseline is dangerous. Surely one to watch in the future, she beat Patricia Mayr-Achleitner in straights.

Andrianjafitrimo d. Mayr-Achleitner 6-2 6-4

Quick impressions also in regards to Nastassja Burnett (outpowered Lin Zhu), Elizaveta Kulichkova (far from being impressive against Yi-Fan Xu), and Naomi Broady (great performance on serve against Cagla Buyukakcay).

Burnett d. Zhu 6-2 6-1
Kulichkova d. Xu 6-2 6-2
Broady d. Buyukakcay 6-1 7-6

I watched the second set of Veronica Cepede Royg-CiCi Bellis and that set was surprisingly a bagel. Bellis didn’t play bad tennis at all but on clay she didn’t manage to find a way to hit through the short girl from Paraguay. Cepede Royg played an excellent match, perfect from baseline.

Cepede Royg d. Bellis 6-4 6-0

It has been another crazy weather day: sick wind, then rain, then cold, then sun. Tomorrow and on Friday should (should!) not feature rain.

Advertisement

Rain Suspends Play @USTAProCircuit Charlottesville Thursday; Friday Order of Play

Posted by Admin on April 30, 2015
Posted in: Charlottesville, ITF, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

RAIN SUSPENDS PLAY ON THURSDAY AT 14th ANNUAL BOYD TINSLEY WOMEN’S CLAY COURT CLASSIC

Katerina Stewart

Katerina Stewart

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., April 30, 2015 – Mother Nature cut things a tad short during Thursday’s round at the 14th Annual Boyd Tinsley Women’s Clay Court Classic, the USTA Pro Circuit event being held this week at the Boar’s Head Sports Club. Rain began to fall in the afternoon, cutting a few matches short. The matches are scheduled to be resumed on Friday.

Seven of the eight singles second-round matches were completed, with only one seeded competitor remaining heading into the quarterfinals. No. 3 seed Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal took care of American Caitlin Whoriskey, 6-4, 6-3. The other seeded player that made it through to the second round, No. 6 Paula Ormaechea, was knocked off by fellow Argentinean Florencia Molinero, 6-3, 7-5, on Thursday. Molinero will next face Usue Maitane Arconada, who defeated fellow American Julia Boserup, 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-2.

Larcher de Brito, ranked No. 133, will await the winner between American Jessica Pegula and the lone qualifier still standing, Ukraine’s Elizaveta Ianchuk. Their match was suspended due to weather midway through the deciding third set, tied at 3 games apiece.

2013 Tinsley singles runner-up Allie Kiick survived a tough Thursday challenge from Brazilian Paula Cristina Goncalves, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Up next for Kiick is a quarterfinal matchup against Russia’s Irina Khromacheva, who outlasted Brazil’s Gabriela Ce in three sets on Thursday.

The other singles quarterfinal matchup pits Katerina Stewart of the United States against Canadian Francoise Abanda. Each eliminated a qualifier on Thursday, as Stewart downed American teenager Nicole Frenkel and Abanda bested Storm Sanders of Australia.

Only one doubles quarterfinal match was completed on Thursday, as second-seeded Chieh-Yu Hsu of Taiwan and Justyna Jegiolka of Poland ended the run of Americans Louisa Chirico and Grace Min, 6-2, 6-4. Hsu and Jegiolka needed just two points to clinch the match, but first had to wait out a 30-minute lightning delay.

The match between Samantha Crawford & Emily Harman and Ce & Jessica Moore was suspended in the second set and is scheduled to resume on Friday. The other two doubles quarterfinal matches did not get started on Thursday, as play was officially called at around 4:15 PM.

On Friday, Abanda and Stewart will kick things off on Stadium Court at 10AM (weather pending), with Larcher de Brito’s match to follow after appropriate rest for the winner between Pegula and Ianchuk. That match will resume at 10AM on Court 7 before Arconado and Molinero take the court. Kiick faces Khromacheva in the first match on Court 1, with the three remaining doubles quarterfinal matches to follow later in the day on Courts 1 and 3.

Please see below for Friday’s complete schedule and full results from Thursday.

The 14th Annual Boyd Tinsley Women’s Clay Court Classic features 32 singles players and a 16-team doubles field. The tournament is held at Boar’s Head Sports Club, 200 Wellington Drive in Charlottesville, Virginia. Admission to the tournament is free and the event is open to the public.

This year’s event will again be included in the three-week Har-Tru Wild Card Challenge, which awards one American man and one American woman a wild card into the main draw of the 2015 French Open, which begins in late May. Points will be added to the top American finishers in Charlottesville’s tally, with next week’s tournament in Indian Harbour, Florida marking the last chance to earn points toward the French Open.

Again this year, the Boyd Tinsley Classic will be streamed live at http://www.procircuit.usta.com.

With more than 90 tournaments throughout the country and prize money ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, the USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the US Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis players and a frequent battleground for established professionals. Last year, more than 1,000 men and women from more than 70 countries competed on the USTA Pro Circuit for approximately $3.2 million in prize money and valuable ATP World Tour and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour ranking points.

14th Annual Boyd Tinsley Women’s Clay Court Classic
Thursday, April 30
At Boar’s Head Sports Club
Charlottesville, VA
Purse: $50,000
Surface: Clay-outdoor

Singles – Second Round
Michelle Larcher de Brito, Portugal [3] def. Caitlin Whoriskey, United States, 6-4, 6-3
Florencia Molinero, Argentina def. Paula Ormaechea, Argentina [6], 6-3, 7-5
Katerina Stewart, United States def. Nicole Frenkel, United States, 6-3, 6-0
Irina Khromacheva, Russia def. Gabriela Ce, Brazil, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
Francoise Abanda, Canada def. Storm Sanders, Australia, 6-4, 6-2
Usue Maitane Arconada, United States def. Julia Boserup, United States, 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-2
Allie Kiick, United States def. Paula Cristina Goncalves, Brazil, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Jessica Pegula, United States vs. Elizaveta Ianchuk, Ukraine, susp.

Doubles – Quarterfinals
Chieh-Yu Hsu, Taiwan / Justyna Jegiolka, Poland [2] def. Louisa Chirico, United States / Grace Min, United States, 6-2, 6-4
Samantha Crawford, United States / Emily J. Harman, United States vs. Gabriela Ce, Brazil / Jessica Moore, Australia, susp.
Paula Cristina Goncalves, Brazil / Florencia Molinero, Argentina [1] vs. Francoise Abanda, Canada / Maria Sanchez, United States, ppd.
Olga Ianchuk, Ukraine / Irina Khromacheva, Russia [3] vs. Jacqueline Cako, United States / Vojislava Lukic, Serbia, ppd.

Schedule for Friday, May 1

Court 3/Stadium, starting at 10:00 AM
Francoise Abanda, Canada vs. Katerina Stewart, United States
After Rest, Time TBA
Jessica Pegula, United States or Elizaveta Ianchuk, Ukraine vs. Michelle Larcher de Brito, Portugal [3]
After Rest, Time TBA
Paula Cristina Goncalves, Brazil / Florencia Molinero, Argentina [1] vs. Francoise Abanda, Canada / Maria Sanchez, United States
After Rest, Time TBA
Olga Ianchuk, Ukraine / Irina Khromacheva, Russia [3] or Jacqueline Cako, United States / Vojislava Lukic, Serbia vs. Chieh-Yu Hsu, Taiwan / Justyna Jegiolka, Poland [2]

Court 1, starting at 10:00 AM
Allie Kiick, United States vs. Irina Khromacheva, Russia
Followed by
Samantha Crawford, United States / Emily J. Harman, United States vs. Gabriela Ce, Brazil / Jessica Moore, Australia (completion of suspended match)
After Rest, Time TBA
Olga Ianchuk, Ukraine / Irina Khromacheva, Russia [3] vs. Jacqueline Cako, United States / Vojislava Lukic, Serbia

Court 7, starting at 10:00 AM
Jessica Pegula, United States vs. Elizaveta Ianchuk, Ukraine (completion of suspended match)
Followed by
Usue Maitane Arconada, United States vs. Florencia Molinero, Argentina

—S. Radcliffe

Saturday Order of Play @FamilyCircleCup

Posted by Admin on April 3, 2015
Posted in: Family Circle Cup, Steve Fogleman, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .
SPRING! Family Circle Cup 2015

SPRING! Family Circle Cup 2015

CiCi Bellis (Photo: Steve Fogleman/Tennis Atlantic)

CiCi Bellis (Photo: Steve Fogleman/Tennis Atlantic)

ORDER OF PLAY – SATURDAY, APRIL 04, 2015
ALTHEA GIBSON CLUB COURT start 10:00 am
Qualifying – [7] K. Kucova (SVK) vs [WC] S. Crawford (USA)
Qualifying – [2] L. Zhu (CHN) vs [WC] J. Pegula (USA)
Qualifying – C. Bellis (USA) vs [15] K. Bondarenko (UKR)
Qualifying – [1] L. Hradecka (CZE) vs [WC] E. Halbauer (USA)

COURT 3 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – [4] A. Kudryavtseva (RUS) vs S. Sorribes Tormo (ESP)
Qualifying – M. Sanchez (USA) vs [16] A. Rodionova (AUS)
Qualifying – [5] K. Date-Krumm (JPN) vs J. Boserup (USA)
Qualifying – O. Rogowska (AUS) vs [12] B. Krejcikova (CZE)

COURT 4 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – K. Piter (POL) vs [11] J. Jaksic (SRB)
Qualifying – [8] D. Kovinic (MNE) vs A. Kiick (USA)
Qualifying – [6] M. Larcher de Brito (POR) vs B. Haddad Maia (BRA)
Qualifying – G. Dabrowski (CAN) vs [10] L. Chirico (USA)

COURT 5 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – N. Osaka (JPN) vs [14] P. Kania (POL)
Qualifying – L. Kerkhove (NED) vs [9] M. Zanevska (UKR)
Qualifying – [3] S. Karatantcheva (BUL) vs A. Rus (NED)
Qualifying – [WC] F. Abanda (CAN) vs [13] L. Siegemund (GER)

The Michelle Larcher de Brito Post

Posted by Admin on March 30, 2014
Posted in: Charleston, Family Circle Cup, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , .

There’s this one guy on twitter who bugs the hell out of me to follow Michelle Larcher de Brito around every time he discovers I’m at the same place at the same time as LdB. I think he’s gone through a few accounts.

Look, LdB is a very interesting and charming player. I have enjoyed watching her matches and meeting her family.

But this is the last time I worry about pleasing a single twitter follower with an agenda.

I’m sick of it.

You don’t always need to see. It would be good for you to just imagine a match once in a while.

This is your last fix, bro.

You won’t have me to boss around the twittersphere anymore.

And I should just tell you now. As for that Grace Min and LdB matchup tomorrow night? I’d love to see it. But you, my friend, can catch it on ESPN3 or some stolen feed. You’re on your own.

Michelle Larcher de Brito

DSCN0932

DSCN0943

DSCN0948

DSCN0952

DSCN0973

DSCN0976

fcc ldb

Raindrops and Dropshots: Day 1 Qualifying @FamilyCircleCup Goes Late

Posted by Admin on March 29, 2014
Posted in: Charleston, Family Circle Cup, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Raindrops and Dropshots: Day 1 Qualifying @FamilyCircleCup Goes Late
Stephan Fogleman, Tennis East Coast

DSCN0728

CHARLESTON, S.C. (March 29, 2014)—Rain delayed the start of Family Circle Cup qualifying in Charleston today, pushing the 10:00 a.m. schedule to a 1:00 p.m. start. And wouldn’t you know it, six of the first eight matches after the delayed start went three sets.

Grace Min eased by a punchy Danka Kovinic, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2 in 2:23.

Min

Min

Alla Kudryatseva knocked out Arantxa Parra Santonja in 2:04, winning 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Sesil Karatantcheva beat American Sanaz Marand 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Taylor Townsend took a 5-1 3rd set lead, but almost didn’t close it out. She prevailed over Alize Lim, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, in 2:14.

Michelle Larcher de Brito was her usual expressive self, but faced an equally feisty and noisy Jennifer Elie. In a topsy-turvy match filled with momentous momentum swings, LDB didn’t let herself get in the way in the third as she found her way to a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 match that lasted two hours.

DSCN0765

Saisai Zheng outhustled Anastasia Rodionova in 2:26 with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 marathon win.

Rampre is tough on herself: This was only the coin toss!

Rampre is tough on herself: This was only the coin toss!

Petra Rampre was beating herself up today, and she’d only lost the coin toss in the above photo. She must have known something, as she fell in straights to Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 7-5, 6-1.

Sasnovich

Sasnovich

In other non-three-setters, Madison Brengle played well in a 6-2, 7-6(3) win over Alicja Rosolska, 6-2, 7-6(3), Lesia Tsurenko dominated Alex Mueller 6-0, 6-2, Belinda Bencic rolled through Yung-Jan Chan, 6-3, 6-3, and Mathilde Johansson got off to an early start against Louisa Chirico and never looked back, 6-1, 6-4.

In the unscheduled ‘nightcaps’, Victoria Duval beat Charleston native Ellie Halbauer 2 & 2, Jarmila Gajdosova took out Tamira Paszek in a battle of veterans, 6-3, 7-6(5) and Kiki Bertens got the victory in the final match of the day at 8:05 p.m. against Olga Savchuk, 6-4, 6-2.

Oh, and Daniela Is All In On Daniel Island.

Daniela Is All In For Charleston

Daniela Is All In For Charleston

Michelle Shocked: Larcher de Brito Upset @USTAProCircuit Tennis Classic of Macon

Posted by Admin on October 8, 2013
Posted in: USTA, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

Michelle Shocked: Larcher de Brito Upset at Tennis Classic of Macon

Michelle Larcher De Brito, Photo: R. Limpert

MACON, Georgia, (October 8, 2013) The local meteorologist called it overcast skies, but the tennis players in Macon called it “perfect tennis weather” as more seasonal temperatures and a bit of a cloud cover greeted players as play began on Tuesday for the 2013 ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon presented by the W.L. Amos Foundation.

Qualifying wrapped up by 1 p.m. with eight players earning spots in the main draw. Qualifying number one seed Di Zhao of China punched her ticket with a straight set win over American Allison Miller. Natalie Pluskota of Sharpsburg, GA won a tight three set match against Michelle Sammons of South Africa. Also earning a place in the main draw was Elizabeth Lumpkin, Emma Hayman of New Zealand, and Danielle Lao of California. Lao upset Lauren Embree, a former University of Florida All-American, 6-2, 7-6.

Speaking of upsets…

The tournament’s No. 2 seed, Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugal went down in round one to the number one player from Norway, Ulrikke Eikeri 6-4, 6-1.

Ulrikke Eikeri, Photo: R. Limpert

Larcher De Brito, who gained fame for defeating Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon this year, struggled with the wind at Stratford Academy’s Jaime Kaplan Tennis Center, but she also didn’t have an answer for Eikeri’s serve or forehand.

Eikeri, who missed six months in 2013 with an injury, said she has been working hard to make up for missed time.

“It was hard being out injured, offered up the 20-year old from Oslo. “But I feel better now and confident and feel I’m playing better.”

Eikeri said she’s been concentrating on her serve, and with a lower ball toss, she said she can generate a little more pace.

Eikeri gets an off day from singles on Wednesday and she will be back playing singles on Thursday.

Other winners of note on Tuesday were Canadian Carol Zhao, American Julia Boserup, and former world top-50 player Anna Tatishvili of Georgia.

The doubles draw also began on Tuesday and the seeded duo of Jacqueline Cako and Natalie Pluskota fell to Stephanie Bengston and Madison Brengle.

Play will resume on Wednesday morning at 10 am with the remaining first round main draw singles matches taking place.

Tuesday’s Results (Winners Listed First)

Di ZHAO (CHN) [1]Allison MILLER (USA) WSQ 6-0 7-5

Elizabeth LUMPKIN (USA) [2]Kateryna YERGINA (UKR) WSQ 6-1 7-6(2)

Natalie PLUSKOTA (USA) [3]Michelle SAMMONS (RSA) [10] WSQ 6-3 3-6 6-4

Caitlin WHORISKEY (USA) [4]Anastasia Evgenyevna NEFEDOVA (RUS) [16] WSQ 7-5 6-3

Danielle LAO (USA)Lauren EMBREE (USA) [5] WSQ 6-2 7-6(3)

Piia SUOMALAINEN (FIN) [9]Brittany LASHWAY (USA) WSQ 6-1 7-5

Mari OSAKA (JPN) [7]Anne-Liz JEUKENG (USA) [11] WSQ 6-3 3-6 6-1

Emma HAYMAN (NZL) [8]Kady POOLER (USA) WSQ 6-1 6-0

Jacqueline CAKO (USA)Petra RAMPRE (SLO) [5] WS 6-1 7-5

Ulrikke EIKERI (NOR)Michelle LARCHER DE BRITO (POR) [2] WS 6-4 6-1

Allie KIICK (USA) [7]Mai MINOKOSHI (JPN) WS 6-3 6-0

Ajla TOMLJANOVIC (CRO) [1]Sanaz MARAND (USA) WS 6-2 6-2

Julia BOSERUP (USA)Beatriz HADDAD MAIA (BRA) [8] WS 6-1 6-0

Anna TATISHVILI (GEO) [4]Brooke AUSTIN (USA) WS 6-1 6-4

Emily J. HARMAN (USA) / Elizabeth LUMPKIN (USA)Malika ROSE (USA) / Caitlin WHORISKEY (USA) WD 1-6 7-5 [10-8]

Stephanie BENGSON (AUS) / Madison BRENGLE (USA)Jacqueline CAKO (USA) [2] / Natalie PLUSKOTA (USA) WD 1-6 6-4 [10-4]

Lauren EMBREE (USA) / Allie KIICK (USA)Madeleine KOBELT (USA) / Chiara SCHOLL (USA) WD 6-1 6-1

Khristina BLAJKEVITCH (CAN) / Petra JANUSKOVA (CAN) Brittany LASHWAY (USA) / Rhiann NEWBORN (USA) WDQ 6-3 6-2

—R. Limpert

ButlerCars.Com Tennis Classic of Macon Field Features Depth, Youth

Posted by Admin on October 4, 2013
Posted in: USTA, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

TENNIS CLASSIC OF MACON FIELD FEATURES DEPTH, YOUTH, AND WILDCARDS

Michelle Larcher DeBrito (Photo: Rick Limpert)

Michelle Larcher DeBrito (Photo: Rick Limpert)

MACON, Georgia, (October 3, 2013) The player field has taken shape for the 2013 ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon and Mercer tennis coach and tournament director Eric Hayes couldn’t be more excited.

“I’m blown away,” said Hayes. “From the players that have entered the tournament, to the support of the sponsors and the Macon tennis community, this is going to be a great event.”

Heading the entry list is world No. 85 Ajla Tomljanovic of Croatia, Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugal, who notched a win over Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon this year, and American Coco Vandeweghe.

CoCo Vandeweghe (Photo: Craig Glover)

CoCo Vandeweghe (Photo: Craig Glover)

There is considerable depth in the event, unlike other 25K events around the world.

“Our initial ranking cut off was around 200,” explained Hayes. “That is unheard of for a USTA 25K event.”

Gibbs

Gibbs

Making up that depth are solid young Americans like former Stanford All-American and NCAA singles champ Nicole Gibbs, former Florida Gator Allie Will, and a pair of promising American juniors in Allie Kiick and Brooke Austin. Austin, of Indianapolis was one of the wildcard recipients.

Other players of note playing in Macon are Anna Tatishvili of Georgia and Sharpsburg, Georgia’s Natalie Pluskota. Tatishvili was ranked 50 in the world about a year ago and Pluskota played her college tennis at Tennesse.

Former University of Alabama player Alexa Guarachi also received a wildcard into the event.

Play begins on Sunday morning at Stratford Academy.

—R. Limpert

Oudin Advances @PartyRockOpen

Posted by Admin on September 27, 2013
Posted in: Las Vegas, Party Rock Open, USTA, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

FORMER US OPEN QUARTERFINALIST OUDIN MOVES ON TO THE QUARTERFINALS AT THE PARTY ROCK OPEN

Melanie Oudin (Photo: Craig Glover)

Melanie Oudin
(Photo: Craig Glover)

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 26, 2013) – It’s with mixed emotions that Melanie Oudin moved into the quarterfinals at the Party Rock Open.

Playing against one of her best friends on tour Shelby Rogers, Oudin advanced after the No. 8-seeded Rogers decided not to continue after winning the first set 6-4, but was down 4-1 in the second on Thursday at the Darling Tennis Center during Day 3 of the USTA $50,000 Women’s Pro Circuit event.

“Shelby and I are such good friends that I think it kind of sucks that she had to retire,” said Oudin, ranked No. 147 in the world. “At the same time, I’m really looking forward to playing in the quarterfinals. She hit a serve at 4-3 and I saw her kind of tugging at her back and I knew she was hurting. She had a great win last week winning Albuquerque.”

Rogers, a finalist in last year’s Party Rock Open, called for a medical time out up 5-4 in the first set and again down 4-1, 0-30 in the second set.

Oudin wasn’t the only player to move on via a default as qualifier Allie Kiick advanced to the quarterfinals leading wild card Alexandra Stevenson, 6-1, 1-0. The former Wimbledon semifinalist was not able to continue because of an injured wrist.

Kiick lost a tight doubles match later in the day teaming with partner Madison Brengle, as they fell to the Australian pair of Stephanie Bengson and Sacha Jones, 3-6, 6-3, 10-8.

CoCo Vandeweghe was a big double winner on Thursday as the No. 6-seed player defeated her doubles partner Tamira Paszek of Austria, 6-4, 6-2, in singles, then paired up with her to beat Melanie Oudin and Taylor Townsend 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4).

Other seeded players who fell in exciting three-set matches on Thursday included No. 2 Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal to American Madison Brengle, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, and No. 4-seeded American Maria Sanchez, who lost to Anna Tatishvili of Georgia, 7-6 (1), 2-6, 6-3.

Mayo Hibi

Mayo Hibi

In the late match, unseeded Mayo Hibi defeated qualifier and local favorite Asia Muhammad 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

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.att

—Steve Pratt

Second-round main draw singles
Melanie Oudin (US) def. Shelby Rogers (US) [8] 4-6, 4-1, ret.
Allie Kiick (US) def. Alexandra Stevenson (US) 6-1, 1-0, ret.
Madison Brengle (US) def. Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) [2] 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Anna Tatishvili (GEO) def. Maria Sanchez (US) [4] 7-6 (1), 2-6, 6-3
CoCo Vandeweghe (US) [6] def. Tamira Paszek (AUT) 6-4, 6-2
Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) [1] def. Amra Sadikovic (SUI) 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5)
Chanel Simmonds (RSA) def. Tereza Mrdeza (CRO) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
Mayo Hibi (JPN) def. Asia Muhammad (US) [q] 6-4, 4-6, 6-2

Second-round main draw doubles
Stephanie Bengson (AUS) / Sacha Jones (AUS) def. Madison Brengle (US) / Allie Kiick (US) 3-6, 6-3, 10-8
Samantha Crawford (US) / Sachia Vickery (US) [wc] def. Anna Tatishvili (GEO) / Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) 6-4, 4-6, 10-5
Tamira Paszek (AUT) / CoCo Vandeweghe (US) [2] def. Melanie Oudin (US) / Taylor Townsend (US) 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4)
Denise Mursean (US) / Caitlin Whoriskey (US) def. Macall Harkins (US) / Sanaz Marand (US) 3-6, 6-4, 10-8

Friday’s Schedule

Stadium Court, starting at Noon
CoCo Vandeweghe (US) [6] vs. Madison Brengle (US)
Followed by Alja Tomljanovic (CRO) [1] vs. Mayo Hibi (JPN)
Followed by Stephanie Bengson (AUS) / Sacha Jones (AUS) vs. Denise Mursean (US) / Caitlin Whoriskey (US)
Not before 6 p.m.
Samantha Crawford (US) / Sachia Vickery (US) [wc] vs. Tamira Paszek (AUT) / CoCo Vandeweghe (US) [2]

Court 11, starting at 1 p.m.
Allie Kiick (US) [q] vs. Anna Tatishvili (GEO)
Not before 5 p.m. Chanel Simmonds (RSA) vs. Melanie Oudin (US)

WTA Debut Success for Arconada, University of Virginia ATP Day @CitiOpen

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

WTA Debut Success for Arconada, University of Virginia ATP Day @CitiOpen

Jarmere Jenkins

Jarmere Jenkins

Qualifying play got underway without a hitch at the Citi Open yesterday, with only a late afternoon rain delay slowing down the proceedings.

On the men’s side, University of Virginia alumni and affiliates brought out a sizable crowd of support. Virginia Cavalier fans were treated to mixed results with Jarmere Jenkins and Somdev Devvarman winning in straight sets over Farukh Dustov and Jesse Witten. Virginia’s Mac Styslinger lost in three sets to Alex Kuznetsov, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, while Mitchell Frank was off-form in a rain-delayed straight sets loss to Malek Jaziri.

Also in straight sets: 4 seed Jesse Levine had little trouble with Denys Molchanov, Yuichi Sugita dispatched Sekou Bangoura and Sam Groth beat Sanam Singh.

Donald Young

Donald Young

And yes, Donald Young let another match go in a predictable spiral. This time, it was Saketh Myneni to take advantage of a second set decline by Young, who seems to be a wonderful first set player. Young seemed to have the mental advantage until he was broken early in the second set. It was all slowly downhill from there for Young as Myneni prevailed 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4.

Rhyne Williams, who won a first round main draw match against Denis Kudla on Monday night at the BB&T Atlanta Open, was forced to play a first round qualifying match against Robby Ginepri. Ginepri also played in the main draw at Atlanta this week. Williams had dinner with Ginepri on Friday night and looks up to the Georgia veteran of the tour. That didn’t stop Williams from grinding out Ginepri in three sets.

Christian Harrison

Christian Harrison

Christian Harrison continues to play beyond his young age after impressing in Atlanta earlier in the week. He survived the talented but lately unlucky Marinko Matosevic, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(7). With each match, the younger Harrison seems to become wiser and more focused.

Tim Smyczek recovered after a second set letdown to advance to a qualifying final and emerging victorious over Alexander Peya in three sets.

WTA Debutante Usue Arconada (Photo: S. Fogleman)

WTA Debutante Usue Arconada (Photo: S. Fogleman)

WTA play was overwhelmingly dominated by the WTA debut and first pro win of 14-year-old Argentinian-American Usue Arconada, who trains ten miles away in College Park, Maryland. Arconada hardly looked under pressure in a straight sets win over Maria Irigoyen of Argentina.

WTA play was also dominated by quick and dominating victories. Only one women’s match went the distance on Saturday, while the men went to three sets six times. Jennifer Elie won the most contested WTA match over Adriana Perez, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2.

Larcher de Brito

Larcher de Brito

Top qualifying seed Michelle Larcher de Brito had little trouble with rising American Louisa Chirico, 7-5, 6-1, while American Victoria Duval was able to advance over fellow American Lena Litvak, 6-4, 7-5. Other easy winners included Shuko Aoyama and Alexandra Mueller.

The qualifying field will be looking for main draw entries in the final round on Sunday.

On Stadium Court, Matt Ebden and Saketh Myneni will open at 10 a.m., with Rhyne Williams vs. Samuel Groth. Next up will be Somdev Devvarman against Christian Harrison, with Alex Kuznetsov and Malek Jaziri to finish.

On Grandstand 1, Jesse Levine and Yuichi Sugita will kick things off followed by Michelle Larcher de Brito matching up against young American Victoria Duval and Tim Smyczek taking on UVA’s Jarmere Jenkins.

On Grandstand 2, Irina Falconi faces Jennifer Elie, Jessica Pegula attempts to qualify against Shuko Aoyama, and Alex Mueller will play 14-year-old Usue Arconada.

CITI OPEN – WASHINGTON, DC, USA

USD 1,546,590.00 (ATP) USD 235,000.00 (WTA) JULY 27 – AUGUST 04, 2013

RESULTS – JULY 27, 2013

Men’s Qualifying Singles – First Round

Qualifying – R Williams (USA) d R Ginepri (USA) 62 36 63

Qualifying – T Smyczek (USA) d [Alt] A Peya (AUT) 60 26 63

Qualifying – J Levine (CAN) d D Molchanov (UKR) 64 76(5)

Qualifying – S Devvarman (IND) d J Witten (USA) 75 60

Qualifying – A Kuznetsov (USA) d [WC] M Styslinger (USA) 63 36 61

Qualifying – C Harrison (USA) d I Marchenko (UKR) 63 36 76(7)

Qualifying – Y Sugita (JPN) d [Alt] S Bangoura (USA) 63 75

Qualifying – S Myneni (IND) d D Young (USA) 67(2) 63 64

Qualifying – M Jaziri (TUN) d [WC] M Frank (USA) 64 62

Qualifying – [WC] J Jenkins (USA) d F Dustov (UZB) 64 63

Qualifying – S Groth (AUS) d S Singh (IND) 60 75

Women’s Qualifying Singles – First Round

Qualifying – M Larcher de Brito (POR) d L Chirico (USA) 75 61
Qualifying – J Pegula (USA) d A Gabueva (RUS) 62 64
Qualifying – [WC] U Arconada (USA) d M Irigoyen (ARG) 75 63
Qualifying – J Elie (USA) d A Perez (VEN) 60 46 62
Qualifying – S Aoyama (JPN) d J Lawrence (USA) 63 61
Qualifying – [WC] V Duval (USA) d L Litvak (USA) 64 75
Qualifying – A Mueller (USA) d A Weinhold (USA) 60 61

ORDER OF PLAY – SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2013 STADIUM COURT start 10:00 am
Qualifying – M Ebden (AUS) vs S Myneni (IND)
Qualifying – R Williams (USA) vs S Groth (AUS)
Qualifying – S Devvarman (IND) vs C Harrison (USA)
Qualifying – A Kuznetsov (USA) vs M Jaziri (TUN) – ATP

GRANDSTAND 1 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – J Levine (CAN) vs Y Sugita (JPN)
Qualifying – M Larcher de Brito (POR) vs [WC] V Duval (USA)
Qualifying – T Smyczek (USA) vs [WC] J Jenkins (USA) – ATP

GRANDSTAND 2 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – I Falconi (USA) vs J Elie (USA)
Qualifying – J Pegula (USA) vs S Aoyama (JPN)
Qualifying – A Mueller (USA) vs [WC] U Arconada (USA) – WTA

@MichelleLBrito, Stephanie Dubois, Sharon Fichman, Edina Gallovits-Hall Celebrate Semifinal Berths @TroyUSTA

Posted by Admin on October 13, 2012
Posted in: USTA, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Tournament Director Eric Hayes Celebrates a Birthday

A Day of Celebrations at Troy Tennis

By Rick Limpert

TROY, Ala., (Oct 12, 2012) –  Everywhere you turned on Friday at the Lundsford Tennis Complex on the campus of Troy University, there was a  celebration.

Players, coaches, fans and members of the media stopped by to wish tournament director and Troy University tennis coach  Eric Hayes a “Happy Birthday.”

Hayes’ birthday usually comes during tournament week and the USTA officials and tournament staff presented Hayes with a cake and a birthday song to start the  festivities. There was even a high school homecoming parade that passed by the tennis center with horses floats and bands.

Winners of the day’s matches, quarterfinals in the singles draw and semifinals in the doubles joined in the celebration as they came off the courts with a victory.

The first celebration of the day was in the Edina Gallovits-Hall camp as she ended the run of Norwegian upstart Ulrikke Eikeri.

Edina Gallovits-Hall (Photo: Rick Limpert)

For Atlanta resident Gallovits-Hall, it’s all about attitude.

“My attitude has been better this week than it has been the past two,” stated Gallovits-Hall, who has been ranked in the top-100 for much of  her career. “I’m just trying to enjoy every match that I can play.”

Gallovits-Hall treated the fans on this hot Alabama morning to some inspired tennis in the first set.

“I feel I played very well in the first set and wasn’t giving her anything,” summed up Gallovits-Hall.  “I will have to do that again in  the next round.”

Ulrikke Eikeri (Photo: Rick Limpert)

Joining Gallovits-Hall in the final four will be Sharon Fichman of Canada who defeated American Chi Chi Scholl 6-3, 6-4.  There appeared to be a lot of joy with the group of Canadians that are present this week in Troy.

In the other match involving an American player, Grace Min jumped out quickly on top-seeded Michelle Larcher De Brito, but De Brito kicked it into another gear down 5-4 in  the first set and won 7-6, 6-2.

“I stayed positive even though I was down and managed to be more aggressive,” said a happy Larcher De Brito.

Michelle Larcher DeBrito (Photo: Rick Limpert)

She plays Sharon Fichman of Canada tomorrow, and these two have never met.

“She’s a good player, she’s really consistent as well, so I need to stay calm and play my game.”

In the final singles quarterfinal, Stephanie Dubois took down Adriana Perez of Venezuela 6-7, 7-5, 6-2.

Some great matches, and more to come on Saturday and Sunday. Who will be celebrating?