Henderson junior pulls off upset at US Open

Sun file photo

Asia Muhammad, a Henderson native and former Coronado student, is seen here practicing at the Las Vegas Hilton tennis complex in February. Muhammad recently turned pro and is currently competing in the US Open in New York City.

By Steve Silver

Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009 | 8:43 p.m.

Heather Cory

Asia Muhammad

Teen tennis sensation and Henderson native Asia Muhammad knocked off the top junior in the world today at the US Open.

Muhammad toppled Kristina Mladenovic of France 6-1, 6-4 in the opening round of the US Open junior tournament.

The 18-year-old former Coronado student successfully hit 71 percent of her first serves as she dropped the 2009 French Open junior champion and the Wimbledon junior runner-up.

"I thought (Muhammad) stayed very composed under the circumstances," explained her longtime coach Tim Blenkiron who trains players at the Las Vegas Hilton and Andre Agassi Foundation. "She did a much better job with her nerves, which is what we have been working on."

Last year Muhammad lost in the third round of the US Open juniors to Melanie Oudin. Oudin has already upset Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva to reach the fourth round of the US Open main draw this year.

"Last year against Melanie I was very nervous and tight," Muhammad said in a statement. "I was nervous today but I was a lot better at dealing with it."

Muhammad, who is currently ranked No. 390 in the world on the WTA, lost in the second round of the singles qualifying draw last week.

She will now face either Gail Brodsky or Veronica Cepede Royg in the next round of the juniors. Brodsky and Muhammad are slated to play doubles together as they face the seventh-seeded Russian duo of Daria Gavrilova and Irina Khromacheva on Monday night.