LMFAO star encourages lively atmosphere during USTA Pro Circuit event

"Loud" might be the last word one associates with a tennis tournament.

Then again, there hasn't been a tournament run by Redfoo. Until now.

The electropop star and co-founder of LMFAO wants people to enjoy themselves, whether in a nightclub or at Darling Tennis Center. He intends to make the $50,000 Party Rock Open, which begins Tuesday, into a unique tennis event.

"I want to bring Party Rock to the tennis world while respecting the tennis world," Redfoo said Sunday prior to entertaining several hundred local youths at the event's Kid's Day. "We want to have music playing. We want fans to wear the Party Rock clothes. We want them to get excited. It's all about having fun. That's what a party is."

For the first three years, the USTA Pro Circuit women's event quietly went about its business in the pleasant but staid environment of Red Rock Country Club. The fields were decent, the crowds on the final weekend OK and the promoters seemed content. But about 10 weeks ago, things changed dramatically.

Redfoo, whose real name is Stefan Gordy, the son of Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., was at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and searching for a place to play tennis. Tyler Weeks, who oversees tennis for the Cosmo, got the 37-year-old Redfoo on the property's courts for a two-hour lesson.

They started to talk, and Weeks told Redfoo about the tennis tournament he and partner Jordan Butler have been running in Las Vegas. He also informed Redfoo that the tournament was searching for a title sponsor after a local car dealership had decided not to re-up.

"I said to him, 'How does 'Party Rock Open' sound?' " Weeks said, playing off the name of Redfoo's company which deals in apparel, music and entertainment. "He looked at me and he said, 'I love it.' "

Redfoo saw a marketing opportunity that combined his passions - music and tennis.

"For me, it was perfect," he said. "I was just at the U.S. Open and I had such a great time. And these guys were willing to give me my own (tennis) tournament. I thought to myself, 'Here's a chance for me to do something to help the sport I love.' "

Redfoo's vision is to grow the event beyond the USTA Pro Circuit and get it as a stop on the WTA Tour. He's friends with Victoria Azarenka, the top women's player in the world. If the WTA comes to Las Vegas, Azarenka would likely play, and her presence would boost the event's visibility immensely.

"This is Vegas," Redfoo said. "It's got to be big."

Weeks said he and Butler have had discussions with the WTA Tour about 2013.

"Life is about taking risks and having fun in taking those risks," Weeks said. "Foo is an inspiration to me. He's taking risks and making his vision come alive."

Sunday, it was all about fun. While qualifying matches into the main draw were being played, kids were treated to snow cones, climbing into and running inside giant inflatable balls, playing ping pong, listening to music cranked out by DJs and getting Party Rock gear, which has flashy neon colors that never would be worn at Wimbledon.

For Redfoo, the timing is perfect. Despite published reports that he and nephew SkyBlu were on the outs in the wake of their tour having been canceled, Redfoo said all's well between them and LMFAO is not dead.

"We're taking a break," he said. "We're both family. We're both musicians and athletes. We're focusing on individual projects, and this tournament is my current project.

"I love this city. I love the people who live and work here. This is my favorite place to party - I just performed at Tao two nights ago - and this is my free time. So I'm doing my best to meld the two.

"I've always said it's your job to make yourself happy. When I'm able to combine my music with tennis, that's when I'm at my happiest."

■ NOTES - Asia Muhammad of Las Vegas will play her first Party Rock Open singles match Tuesday night. Muhammad and Yasmin Schnack won the doubles title Sunday at the ColemanVision Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., beating Irina Falconi and Maria Sanchez, 6-2, 1-6, 12-10. ... Las Vegas junior Kimberly Yee lost in her attempt to play her way into the main draw of the Party Rock Open, falling to Zoe Scandalis, 6-4, 6-1.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.