Oct. 2, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. - All-SEC sophomore Taylor Russo and freshman Jaeda Daniel begin play in the qualifying round of Riviera/ITA All-American Championships Tuesday at the Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Russo, No. 60 in the preseason singles rankings, is paired against Denver's Bianca Mok in the opening round of 64 set to begin at 2:30 pm CT. The winner plays again at 6 pm against the victor of Arkansas' Ana Oparenovic and Florida's Brooke Austin.
Daniel, a native of Port Charlotte, Fla., qualified for the round after an outstanding showing in the pre-qualifying round with three wins, including a 6-1, 6-2 decision over 3-seed Miki Kobayashi of Washington. She is paired against Clemson's Marie Leduc in the round of 64 in a match beginning at 12:45 pm CT. The victor will advance to the winner's bracket against either Donika Bashota (TCU) or 5-seed Allona Bolsova (Florida Atlantic) at 4:15 pm.
Daniel will first kick things off on Tuesday with partner Madeline Meredith, a freshman from Birmingham, Ala., in qualifying doubles vs. Duke's Samantha Harris and Kelly Chin. The winner advances to Wednesday's round of 16.
No. 9 Alizee Michaud begins her time on the court on Thursday in both the singles and doubles main draw. The senior from Orlando, Fla., is making her second-straight appearance in the prestigious tournament in both singles and doubles. Michaud and doubles partner Russo, ranked No. 2 in the nation, advanced to the opening round of the main draw from the qualifying round in last year's event.