It’s tennis time at the U.S. Open

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In 2004 the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote a story about a 13-year-old tennis player, Asia Muhammad. Thankfully the hype machine didn’t go into overdrive. Muhammad has taken her time developing her game.

Now she’s trying to play her way into the main draw of the U.S. Open. Muhammad, of Henderson, Nev., beat Argentina’s Jorgelina-Cravero 6-2, 3-6, 6-0, Wednesday in the 128-player U.S. Open qualifying tournament. Muhammad received a wild-card invitation into the qualifying tournament and also a wild-card spot in the main draw of the U.S. Open women’s doubles tournament with Christina McHale of Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

Muhammad needs to win two more qualifying rounds to earn one of 16 spots available to qualifiers in the main singles draw. Next up for her will be Anastasia Rodionova, the 30th-seeded player.

Adam Peterson, who used to coach Lindsay Davenport and who is now the United States Tennis Assn.’s Training Center West national coach, said he was impressed by Muhammad’s play Wednesday. ‘Her fitness level pulled her through the third set,’ Peterson said.

-- Diane Pucin