Michelle Larcher De Brito life and biography

Michelle Caroline Larcher de Brito, born Micaela Carolina Larcher de Brito, also known as Michelle Larcher de Brito or Michelle Brito (born 29 January 1993 in Lisbon) is a Portuguese tennis player. Larcher de Brito's family moved to the United States when she was nine years old so she could attend the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida. She was coached by Nick Bollettieri until the end of 2007. Currently she is training full time with her father, António Larcher de Brito. She achieved a career-high ranking of 76 on July 6, 2009.

CAREER:

From Portugal via the Bollettieri academy, Michelle Larcher de Brito made headlines at the 2009 French Open with her mid-stroke screeching and recklessly powerful ground strokes.

2010:
Playing in the qualifying phase at the Australian Open, Larcher de Brito failed to qualify to a Grand Slam tournament since the previous year's Australian slam, losing in the first qualifying round 6–3, 6–0 to Ekaterina Dzehalevich. This was followed by a four-match losing run in the Fed Cup in February (that saw the Portugal relegated to Europe/Africa Group II) and a third successive second round showing in Memphis, losing 6–3, 6–1 to Anne Keothavong. After first round exits at Indian Wells and Miami, she found more success in the clay court season with second round showings at Charleston and Estoril. Despite signs of improvement, she failed to qualify to the main draw at the French Open, losing to Misaki Doi in the second qualifying round 4–6, 6–4, 6–4.

In June, came her best result of the season, a third round showing in Birmingham, where she lost to Kaia Kanepi 6–2, 6–2. This was followed with a first round loss at Wimbledon against eventual champion Serena Williams 6–0, 6–4. The American hard court season also proved to be unsuccessful with failed qualification attempts at Stanford and San Diego and a first round loss at the US Open against Sania Mirza 6–3, 6–2. She finished the year at the ITF 75K event at Albuquerque with another first round loss to Daria Gavrilova by 6–2, 6–4.

2011:
Larcher de Brito started the season by playing in an ITF 25K event in Plantation, losing in the first round to Julia Boserup in straight sets 6–0, 6–4. She then took part in another ITF 25K event in Lutz, losing in the second round to 874-ranked player Jessica Pegula in a close match, by 4–6, 7–6(3), 7–6(3). At her third event, in the ITF 25K event in Rancho Santa Fe, CA, Larcher de Brito won her first career title beating Madison Brengle in the final 3–6, 6–4, 6–1. Afterwards she took part in 100K event in Midland, losing in the second round to American Ahsha Rolle 6–0, 3–6, 6–3. In Miami she lost in the second round of qualifying to former junior No.1 Arantxa Rus 6–4, 6–2.

PERSONAL:

Coached by father, Antonio Larcher de Brito
Baseliner whose best assets are movement and groundstrokes; favorite surfaces are hard, grass
Mother's name is Caroline; brothers are Sebastian and Sergio (twins, four years her senior); has dog called Armani (husky)
Began playing at age 3 when father introduced her to the sport at local club; also trains at IMG Bollettieri
Speaks Portuguese, English
Favorite types of music are hip hop, rap; favorite artist is Justin Timberlake
Favorite movie is When A Stanger Calls; favorite book is DaVinci Code
Also enjoys reading, walking her dog, shopping
Favorite things about being a pro tennis player are seing the world and competing; least favorite thing is losing
Favorite players are Seles, Hingis, Nadal
Favorite tournament is Miami because it was her first Tour event
Goal is to keep improving.

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