Amateur Muhammad in Hilton Cup final
The Hilton Cup has become Asia Muhammad’s coming-out party. And she is enjoying playing the happy hostess.
The 16-year-old amateur from Las Vegas is having a great week at the Tennis Channel Open, highlighted by her 6-3, 7-5 victory over Madison Brengle in the semifinals Saturday at the Darling Tennis Center.
Muhammad will play Camille Pin of France for the title at 10 a.m. today on Stadium Court. Though Muhammad is in her second professional tournament, she has preserved her amateur status by not accepting prize money, other than allowable expenses. If she beats Pin, she’ll turn down the winner’s check of $7,315.
“I was really tired, both physically and mentally,” Muhammad said. “I had to fight through that. The points here are a lot longer than in juniors, and I’ve played a lot of long matches this week.
“But I was able to attack her second serve, and the crowd really helped me. I think it frustrated her.”
Muhammad broke Brengle at 3-2 in the first set and won the final three games.
In the second set, she rallied from a 5-2 deficit by being aggressive and winning second return points. Muhammad converted 21 of 26 opportunities and had 70 points won to Brengle’s 57.
Muhammad said the support she has received all week from the local tennis community has helped her reach the final.
“(Beating Pin) would be great for me and for the people who support me,” she said. “I want to win as much for them as I do for me.”
Pin, 27, is 81st in the WTA Tour’s computer rankings and has career winnings of more than $700,000.
• HILTON CUP DOUBLES — Melinda Czink of Hungary teamed with Renata Voracova of the Czech Republic to win the Hilton Cup doubles title, defeating Chin-Wei Chan of Taipei and Tetiana Luzhanska of the Ukraine, 6-3, 6-2.
Czink and Voracova rallied from a 2-0 first-set deficit on windy Stadium Court. They went up an early break in the second set and coasted to the $2,660 first prize.
• BRYANS IN FINAL — Mike and Bob Bryan will try to win their third straight Tennis Channel doubles title at 1 p.m. today, facing France’s Michael Llodra and Julien Benneteau.
The Bryans reached the finals with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Marcos Baghdatis and Konstantinos Economidis.
• MIKE AGASSI HONORED — The tournament paid tribute to Mike Agassi for his contributions to the sport. The 78-year-old father of local tennis legend Andre Agassi has lived in Las Vegas since 1962.