By Steve Pratt
© Teri Renee Brunnmeier

(October 1, 2010) Lauren Albanese had a miserable 20th birthday one year ago, losing to Asia Muhammad in both singles and doubles at the Lexus of Las Vegas Open. A day before her 21st birthday on Thursday, Albanese got some satisfying revenge, winning six straight games in beating the hometown hero from Henderson in the same round as last year, 6-4, 7-5.
 
It was a boisterous Red Rock Country Club crowd cheering all the way for Muhammad who lost in last year’s quarterfinals one round after beating Albanese.

"I can understand it; you would expect it with her being from here," Albanese said of the fans. "Maybe I can get them on my side tomorrow. I’ll need it. It’s no fun losing on your birthday."
 
Muhammad let a 5-1 lead slip away in the second set as Albanese survived two sets points down 5-4 in the most intense game of the match. Muhammad was disappointed she couldn’t force a third set.

"I just love this tournament and I’m encouraged with how well I played this week," Muhammad said. "Lauren played the best I’ve seen her play."


 
Albanese, ranked No. 238 in the world and from Jacksonville, Fla., will have her hands full Friday as she goes up against No. 3 seeded Sorana Cirstea in the quarterfinals.

"I’m excited to play a former Top 100 player and to see how I’ll do," Albanese said of Cirstea, the 2009 French Open quarterfinalist.
 
Cirstea is guaranteed to have several fans on hand as she trains part time with the adidas group in Vegas with Andre Agassi’s former coach Darren Cahill, who was on hand to watch on Thursday while Gil Reyes and Sargis Sargsian were on hand for her first-round match on Wednesday.
 
Unseeded 29-year-old American Abigail Spears beat wild card Chelsey Gullickson to also move into the quarterfinals. The 2010 NCAA singles champion from Georgia Gullickson lost the first set at 6-0 for the second straight match. But unlike her last match where she came back to beat Julia Cohen, Gullickson couldn’t hold off Spears. 6-0, 5-7, 6-4.
 
"I just came out and didn’t miss," said Spears, who said she was unaware of Gullickson’s slow starting issues. Spears, who was born and raised in San Diego, currently resides in Pueblo, Colo.
 
She will meet Mirjana Lucic, the No. 4 seed from Croatia, in the first match on Stadium Court at 10 a.m. Friday.
 
Thursday’s Second-Round Singles Scores
q: qualifier; wc: wild card

Mirjana Lucic, Croatia (4), def. Heidi El Tabakh, Canada, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Sorana Cirstea, Romania (3), def. Julie Ditty, U.S. (q), 6-2, 6-3
Edina Gallovits, Romania (1), def. Alexandra Mueller, U.S. (wc), 6-3, 6-4
Valerie Tetreault (Canada) (8), def. Kimberly Couts, U.S., 0-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2
Abigail Spears, U.S., def. Chelsey Gullickson, U.S. (wc), 6-0, 5-7, 6-4
Varvara Lepchenko, U.S. (2), def. Lindsay Lee-Waters, U.S., 7-6 (8), 6-3
Anna Tatishvili, Georgia (6), def. Alexa Glatch, U.S. (wc), 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
Lauren Albanese, U.S., def. Asia Muhammad, U.S., 6-4, 7-5
 
Second-Round Doubles Scores
Alexandra Mueller, U.S. / Ahsha Rolle, U.S., def. Kimberly Couts, U.S. / Anna Tatishvili, Georgia (3), 6-2, 6-3
Lindsay Lee-Waters, U.S. / Megan Moulton-Levy, U.S. (4), def. Christina Fusano, U.S. / Courtney Nagle, U.S., 6-2, 6-3
Irina Falconi, U.S. / Maria Sanchez, U.S., def. Madison Brengle, U.S. / def. Amra Sadikovic, Switzerland, 6-4, 6-3
Abigail Spears, U.S. (2) / Mashona Washington, U.S., def. Stephanie Foretz Gacon, France / Alexa Glatch, U.S., 7-6 (3), 7-5
 
Friday’s Order of Play
Stadium Court Starting at 10 a.m.
Abigail Spears, U.S. vs. Mirjana Lucic, Croatia (4)
Followed by Sorana Cirstea, Romania (3), vs. Lauren Albanese, U.S.,
Followed by Lindsay Lee-Waters, U.S. / Megan Moulton-Levy, U.S. (4), vs. Abigail Spears, U.S. (2) / Mashona Washington, U.S.
Court 2 Starting at 10 a.m.
Varvara Lepchenko, U.S. (2), vs. Anna Tatishvili, Georgia (6)
Followed by Valerie Tetreault, Canada (8), vs. Edina Gallovits, Romania (1)
Followed by Irina Falconi, U.S. / Maria Sanchez, U.S., vs. Alexandra Mueller, U.S. / Ahsha Rolle, U.S.
 
The following is a tentative schedule of events supplementing the tournament:
 
COMMUNITY EVENTS
 

    * Friday, Oct. 1 – Volkl/Becker Racquet Day, 6-8 p.m.

USTA Members Day ($10 off admission for all current USTA members)
 

    * Saturday, Oct. 2 – Super Semifinal Saturday; USTA Ladies League Luncheon.

                                  
For additional event and ticket information, please visit www.lexuslvopen.com
 
LAS VEGAS PAST CHAMPIONS
 
Singles
Year                Winner                                                Runner-up               
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
2009                Aniko Kapros (HUN) – Agustina Lepore (ARG)
2008                Melinda Czink (HUN) – Renata Voracova (CZE)
2007                Victoria Azarenka (BLR) – Tatiana Poutchek (BLR)
1999                Erika de Lone (U.S.) – Annabel Ellwood (AUS)
 
PRIZE MONEY
 
SINGLES:                   Prize Money              Points           
Winner                        $7,315                         70
Runner-up                   $3,990                         50
Semifinalist                 $2,185                         32
Quarterfinalist             $1,235                         18
Round of 16                $760                            10
Round of 32                $475                            1
 
DOUBLES:                 Prize Money (per team)
Winner                        $2,660
Runner-up                   $1,425
Semifinalist                 $760
Quarterfinalist             $380
Round of 16                $285