LEXUS OF LAS VEGAS OPEN

Written by: Staff on 20th September 2011

LEXUS OF LAS VEGAS OPEN

Melanie Oudin of the USA returns to Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during their first round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 21 June 2011. EPA/FELIPE TRUEBA |

LAS VEGAS, Nev., (Sept. 15, 2011) – It’s been said that a little bit of solid doubles play can do wonders for a struggling singles game. Melanie Oudin can only hope.

The 19-year-old American who leaped onto the worldwide tennis scene after beating Maria Sharapova and making it all the way to the quarterfinals of the US Open in 2009, had another triumphant trip to New York City recently as she and Jack Sock captured the mixed open doubles title at the year’s final Grand Slam, splitting the $150,000 prize money.

Oudin, currently ranked No. 144 in the world in singles, leads a talented group of WTA women’s players – including defending champion Varvara Lepchenko — into the third annual Lexus of Las Vegas Open, a $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit event, taking place Sept. 27-Oct. 2 at the Red Rock Country Club.

“We knew each other pretty well before. It was actually really easy playing together, because we’re really comfortable with each other,” said Oudin of playing with Sock. “It kind of worked really well because he like jokes a lot when we’re playing and he keeps me relaxed, and sometimes that’s what I have been having trouble with, is staying relaxed playing.”

Anna Tatishvili, representing the country of Georgia, will likely be the top-seeded player in the Vegas tournament and is currently ranked No. 96 in the world. Tatishvili was a quarterfinalist last year in Las Vegas, losing to Lepchenko, who will be among the top-five seeded players currently sitting at No. 108 in the world.

“It looks like we’re going to have another strong year with a solid group of world-ranked players ranging anywhere from No. 95 to No. 175 in the world,” said co-tournament director Jordan J. Butler. “And watch out for the young American players. We have four or five who will have a good shot to get all the way to the finals.”

Americans Alison Riske, Jamie Hampton, Alexa Glatch, Madison Brengle and Ashley Weinhold have received direct entry into the main draw of singles, as has former USC All-American Maria Sanchez, who has received a wild card.

Las Vegas is represented in the event by Asia Muhammad, who will play in the qualifying tournament, as will 14-year-old Kimberly Yee, who received a wild card after qualifying for the US Open Juniors and winning a round in the main draw.

Last year, the now 25-year-old Lepchenko from Allentown, Pa., won her seventh career singles titles with a dominating 6-2, 6-2 win over part-time Las Vegas resident and Romanian Sorana Cirstea. Lindsay Lee-Waters and Megan Moulton-Levy won the doubles event beating the wild-card team of Irina Falconi and Sanchez, 1-6, 7-5, 10-4.

For a complete list of entries: Go to: http://www.itftennis.com/womens/tournaments/tournamentacceptancelist.asp?tournament=1100024989&event=&order=Position

LAS VEGAS PAST CHAMPIONS

Singles

Year Winner Runner-up

2010 Varvara Lepchenko Sorana Cirstea

2009 Regina Kulikova (RUS) Aniko Kapros (HUN)

2008 Camille Pin (FRA) Asia Muhammad (U.S.)

2007 Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) Akiko Morigami (JPN)

1999 Erika de Lone (U.S.) Hila Rosen (ISR)

Doubles

Year Winner

2010 Lindsay Lee-Waters (U.S.) / Megan Moulton-Levy (U.S.)