Muhammad advances in tennis event

Asia Muhammad might be the world's 443rd-ranked tennis player, but she didn't play like it Wednesday.

The 19-year-old Las Vegan displayed tenacity and consistency to outlast No. 5 seed Mariana Duque-Marino of Colombia 6-1, 6-7 (7-2), 6-3 to advance to today's second round of the Lexus of Las Vegas Open at Red Rock Country Club.

''I stayed with the game plan and kept fighting,'' said Muhammad, who will face American Lauren Albanese at 4 p.m. on the Stadium Court. ''My focus in that last set was to break her one time because I knew I could hold my serve.''

Muhammad got her chance at 4-3 when Duque-Marino, ranked No. 127, was unable to save a third break point and returned a volley beyond the baseline.

''I tried to be aggressive,'' Muhammad said. ''I tried to play to her backhand and go after her second serve.''

After dominating the first set, Muhammad had a golden opportunity to put Duque-Marino away in the second set, as she led 3-1 and had two break chances. But she was unable to get the job done and was broken at 4-3 and eventually lost the tiebreaker, 7-2.

''These are the kind of matches you don't want to let slip away,'' Muhammad said.