TMN presented its Dream Team in April 2008, made up of internationally recognised young Portuguese athletes. In the scope of its strategy of support for national sport, TMN has associated itself with these talented young athletes who hold important assets such as perseverance, effectiveness, value and competitiveness.
Michelle Brito, a young 16 year old tennis player is part of this team as well as Francisco Lobato (Sailing), Tiago Pires (Surf), Bernardo Sousa and Armindo Araújo (Car racing), Hélder Rodrigues and Ruben Faria (Motorbike racing).
During her short stay in Portugal, Michelle told us about her professional career, about her pride in being part of the TMN Dream Team and her relationship with TMN. This young promise of the tennis world is the living proof that with motivation, will strength and perseverance pay. “It is always difficult to follow a sports career, but I have always wanted to be a professional tennis player. At the age of three I have learnt to play tennis by the side of my father, my coach and my two brothers and I have never stopped since. Therefore, I am able to face any challenge and work to reach even higher”, she says. She adds that in spite of the sacrifices one has to know how to have fun with it and enjoy what you do.
 |
At the age of 9, she won a scholarship at the Nick Bolletieri Tennis Academy when her whole family moved to the USA. Three years later, Michelle won the G16s Eddie Herr Championship junior circuit and she started to play professionally at the age of 14. In that same year, she won the first round of the SonyEricsson Open 2007.
Among her numerous achievements, Michelle stands out for being the youngest tennis player in the world to win the World Tea Tennis. She is currently one of the youngest players of the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association), having been one of the youngest players to win a match in this tournament.
2009 has been a successful year for Michelle. She qualified for the first time for the main competition of a Grand Slam Tournament (Roland Garros), having won a match against player no. 15 in the world ranking, thus reaching the third round of this tournament; she has also achieved her first victory in the Wimbledon tournament, having just entered the Top 100 list of the best female tennis players (#90). These victories “have reinforced my self-confidence and I now believe that I can do more and better in the professional world, above all working to achieve the best results”.
Although she is still very young, Michelle has no illusions about her media exposure as she is quite aware that she must “remain concentrated on continuing to train, work and win”. This young player is the image of competitiveness itself, associated with a high level of maturity in the courts, this being the reason for her being part of the list of athletes sponsored by TMN.
She confesses that she was very happy for the invitation to become part of the Dream Team. “TMN is my only sponsor in Portugal. I find the support that I and the other athletes receive from TMN of paramount importance. The sports world is always very difficult but TMN always stands by our side”.
Michelle also stresses the “existence of a regular contact with TMN as a demonstration of their concern for me.” She also confesses that she enjoys representing this brand and that she wears the t-shaped ear rings offered by TMN regularly. “I am proud of this patronage. It is about Portuguese supporting another Portuguese in the tennis world”, she says.
In the near future, Michelle promises to keep working in order to achieve many victories and thanks for the support of her fans who “give me a lot of strength”.