INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka's boyfriend, American musician and rapper Redfoo, has entered the U.S. Open national playoffs in a bid to earn a spot in the final grand slam of the year.

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus (R) laughs with her boyfriend singer Redfoo, also known as Stefan Gordy of the band LMFAO, during a practice session as she prepares for the BNP Paribas Open WTA tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, March 6, 2013. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Redfoo, who will play under his given name of Stefan Gordy, has entered the Northern California sectional qualifying tournament in Salinas from June 18-23, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) said on Friday.

"As a kid, it's always been a dream of mine to play professional tennis," the 37-year-old Redfoo said in a statement.

"Thanks to the U.S. Open national playoffs for giving good players with a dream the chance to qualify for one of the biggest tournaments â— the U.S. Open. Every day I see my dream!"

Redfoo, whose father Berry Gordy founded the fabled Motown record label, played tennis as a junior and has been a frequent spectator at the grand slam events in recent years.

Over the past 10 days, he has been watching the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells where his girlfriend Azarenka, the Australian Open champion and world number two, was the top seed.

The Belarusian is unbeaten after 17 matches this season, but withdrew before her quarter-final against eighth-seeded Dane Wozniacki on Thursday with an inflamed right ankle.

Asked earlier during the tournament what it was like to have a celebrity as a romantic partner, Azarenka told reporters: "Well, it makes it more difficult to go have a coffee, that's for sure.

"And for the rest, I really don't pay attention to that so much. We just enjoy each other's company, having fun. Redfoo, I don't even call him that. I just call him Stefan."

Redfoo formed the musical duo LMFAO with his nephew, SkyBlu, in 2006 and together they have produced several worldwide hits, including hit "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy and I Know It".

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