Serve lifts Muhammad into semifinals

Asia Muhammad keeps winning, and it's her serve that is helping her advance in the Hilton Cup women's tournament at the Darling Tennis Center.

The 16-year-old Las Vegan reached the semifinals following Friday's impressive 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 quarterfinal win over Ekaterina Bychkova of Russia. Muhammad will face fellow American Madison Brengle at 11 a.m. today on Stadium Court No. 2. Brengle, a 17-year-old from Dover, Del., advanced with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 win over Stephanie Cohen-Aloro.

"I'm managing my serve better," Muhammad said. "I'm trying to change things up and not be so predictable."

She's also developing mental toughness. She squandered a 6-5 lead in the second set and wasted seven match-point opportunities in the deciding set's final two games before finishing off Bychkova.

"I'm happy I didn't let the second set get to me," Muhammad said. "As I get more experience, I handle situations better. I don't get as frustrated. I've been working on playing every point the same. Match point is like any other point."

Muhammad played Brengle in January and lost in three sets. But she will have the hometown crowd behind her today, and she hopes to use that to her advantage.

"I love the support," Muhammad said. "I want to be aggressive, try and put as much pressure on her as I can and force her to hit passing shots to beat me."

• DOUBLES SEMIS -- The Tennis Channel Open doubles semifinals are scheduled for today with two-time defending champions Mike and Bob Bryan facing Marcos Baghdatis and Konstantinos Economidis at 1 p.m. Jonas Bjorkman and Kevin Ullyett will meet Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra in the other semifinal at 7 p.m. The doubles final is 1 p.m. Sunday.

• FASTEST SERVE -- John Isner might be out of the tournament, but the former University of Georgia star tops the list in one category. According to the Tennis Channel stats crew, the 6-foot-9-inch Isner had the fastest recorded serve through Friday's matches, hitting 148 mph on the radar gun in his opening-round match Tuesday against Alejandro Falla.

• MARATHON MAN -- Of the four semifinalists, no one has played more tennis this week than Kevin Anderson. He began his week last Saturday in the qualifying draw. He won three matches in three days to earn his spot in the 32-player main draw.

He then played three matches in the main draw to make it to today's semifinals against Robby Ginepri. He should be tired, but he said he's not.

"Physically, I'm feeling good," he said. "It's been a long week, but I'm ready to go."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@ reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2913.