Os artigos sobre Michelle nos Esatdos Unidos vão-se sucedendo, a propósito da sua participação no WTT, em representação dos Sacramento Capitals. Do blog do Feliciano ( obrigado mais uma vez !!!) em http://michellelarcherdebrito.blogs.sapo.pt/ , retiramos mais uma, desta vez de um jornal de Albany.
" Michelle Larcher de Brito wasn't even alive when Jennifer Capriati reached the semifinals of the 1990 French Open at 13. She first picked up a racket several years later at 4, when Martina Hingis became the youngest person ever to win a Grand Slam at 15.
Yet, Larcher de Brito, 14, strives to be mentioned one day in the same breath as the two legends whom she grew up emulating. World TeamTennis' youngest player ever even patterns her game after Hingis. "I try to play like Martina Hingis," Larcher de Brito said. "She opens the court really well and has great movement around the court."
On Monday, the teenager's play was instrumental as she helped the Sacramento Capitals rally to defeat the New York Buzz (4-4) 18-16. The Capitals won 10 of the last 12 games on the night.
Sacramento trailed 14-8 before Larcher de Brito and Elena Likhovtseva defeated Greta Arn and Gabriela Navratilova 5-1 in women's doubles to get the Capitals back in the match. Then, Sam Warburg defeated Rik de Voest 5-1 in the final set to clinch the victory.
Larcher de Brito won her first game in women's singles against Arn by displaying loads of power with both ground strokes. But she was hampered with troubles with her serve and net game, as Arn won the next three games of the set.
Capitals coach Wayne Bryan substituted Likhovtseva for Larcher de Brito after the fourth game of the set and Arn won the final two. Larcher de Brito's performance served as a microcosm for her season and young career so far.
"She is enormously talented," Capitals coach Wayne Bryan said. "She has a really good forehand and backhand, but I think she can improve on her doubles and her net play."
In February, she made her ITF debut with Arn in a doubles match in Michigan. Though the duo lost that match, Larcher de Brito became the seventh youngest player to win a match on the WTA tour, a month later in Miami.
"I've always said Michelle is a good player, she'll make it," Arn said. "But she's too young. Hopefully, she doesn't get to the top too early and burn out."
After a full year in professional tennis and a stretch in World TeamTennis facing seasoned veterans, Larcher de Brito said she's not intimidated by facing players more than twice her age.
"Pretty much growing up I've played girls much older than me," Larcher de Brito said. "I've always played up an age group and practiced with girls who are older, so now I'm used to it."
Though she is limited in the number of tournaments she can enter because of WTA's age eligibility rule, Larcher de Brito hopes to play in her first grand slam tournament in the near future. Then, she can take aim at Hingis' record.
"Hopefully soon, as soon as I get a few more wild cards," she said. "I've broken a few records, it would be good to break some more."
On Monday, the teenager's play was instrumental as she helped the Sacramento Capitals rally to defeat the New York Buzz (4-4) 18-16. The Capitals won 10 of the last 12 games on the night.
Sacramento trailed 14-8 before Larcher de Brito and Elena Likhovtseva defeated Greta Arn and Gabriela Navratilova 5-1 in women's doubles to get the Capitals back in the match. Then, Sam Warburg defeated Rik de Voest 5-1 in the final set to clinch the victory.
Larcher de Brito won her first game in women's singles against Arn by displaying loads of power with both ground strokes. But she was hampered with troubles with her serve and net game, as Arn won the next three games of the set.
Capitals coach Wayne Bryan substituted Likhovtseva for Larcher de Brito after the fourth game of the set and Arn won the final two. Larcher de Brito's performance served as a microcosm for her season and young career so far.
"She is enormously talented," Capitals coach Wayne Bryan said. "She has a really good forehand and backhand, but I think she can improve on her doubles and her net play."
In February, she made her ITF debut with Arn in a doubles match in Michigan. Though the duo lost that match, Larcher de Brito became the seventh youngest player to win a match on the WTA tour, a month later in Miami.
"I've always said Michelle is a good player, she'll make it," Arn said. "But she's too young. Hopefully, she doesn't get to the top too early and burn out."
After a full year in professional tennis and a stretch in World TeamTennis facing seasoned veterans, Larcher de Brito said she's not intimidated by facing players more than twice her age.
"Pretty much growing up I've played girls much older than me," Larcher de Brito said. "I've always played up an age group and practiced with girls who are older, so now I'm used to it."
Though she is limited in the number of tournaments she can enter because of WTA's age eligibility rule, Larcher de Brito hopes to play in her first grand slam tournament in the near future. Then, she can take aim at Hingis' record.
"Hopefully soon, as soon as I get a few more wild cards," she said. "I've broken a few records, it would be good to break some more."
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