Redfoo and 'Heroes' actor to make US Open bids

[March 16, 2013]  WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) -- Rapper Redfoo of LMFAO and "Heroes" actor Sendhil Ramamurthy have entered the U.S. Open national playoffs in their bids to earn berths in the final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year.

Redfoo is entered in the USTA Northern California Sectional qualifying tournament in Salinas, Calif., from June 18-23.

He will play under his real name Stefan Gordy in both singles and mixed doubles with 17-year-old Ayaka Okuno, whom he is currently coaching.

The 37-year-old rapper, dancer and DJ, whose father Berry Gordy founded the Motown record label, played tennis as a junior and has attended some of the Grand Slam tournaments.

He was at this week's Indian Wells, Calif., tournament in support of friend Victoria Azarenka, the world's No. 2 player.

"It's always been a dream of mine to play professional tennis," Redfoo said.

Ramamurthy has entered singles and mixed doubles in the USTA Eastern Sectional qualifying tournament from June 9-15 at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center, where the U.S. Open is played starting in late August.

The 38-year-old actor was a competitive junior player in Texas who considered turning pro.

The winners from each sectional qualifying tournament will advance to the national playoffs, and those winners will earn a wild card into the U.S. Open qualifying tournament.

The mixed doubles champions receive a wild card into the main draw of the U.S. Open.

[Associated Press]

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