Lucic earns spot in Las Vegas Open main draw

By Steve Silver

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 | 12:30 a.m.

Former teen sensation Mirjana Lucic continued her attempt to revive a once promising tennis career when in the final round of singles qualifying at the Lexus of Las Vegas Open on Tuesday.

Lucic, who held world rankings as high as No. 32 in singles and No. 19 in doubles back in 1998, defeated fellow Croat Ani Mijacika 6-4, 6-1 at the Red Rock Country Club to earn a spot in the main singles draw.

Lucic joins Petra Rampre, Kimberly Couts and Gabriela Paz in advancing through qualifying. Lucic will next face No. 5 seed Anna Tatishvili Wednesday in the first round of the main draw.

Local star Asia Muhammad returned to her hometown Tuesday in doubles competition. She teamed with Coco Vandeweghe to drop Agnes Szatmari and Riza Zalameda 7-6 (2), 6-4 in the first round.

Muhammad, a wild card entry into the main draw, will play her first singles match Wednesday at 4 p.m. against Canadian Heidi El Tabakh.

Top-seed Varvara Lepchenko takes on Laura Siegemund at 11 a.m.

The complete results from Tuesday are as follows:

Women's singles main draw (first round)

Madison Brengle (USA) def. Mandy Minella (LUX) 6-4, 6-3

Aniko Kapros (HUN) def. Olga Puchkova (RUS) 6-4, 6-0

Lindsay Lee-Waters (USA) def. Greta Arn (HUN) 6-4, 6-2

Women's doubles (first round)

Ana Jovanovic (SRB)/Anna Tatishvili (GEO) def. Heidi El Tabakh (CAN)/Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-1, 7-5

Asia Muhammad (USA)/Coco Vandeweghe (USA) def. Agnes Szatmari (ROU)/Riza Zalameda (USA) 7-6 (2), 6-4

Lauren Albanese (USA)/Madison Brengle (USA) def. Thuy-Dung Nguyen (VIE)/Nicola Slater (GBR) 6-2, 6-2

Maria-Fernanda Alves (BRA)/Anastasia Pivovarova def. Ana-Clara Duarte (BRA)/Mandy Minella (LUX) 6-4, 6-2

Aniko Kapros (HUN)/Agustina Lepore (ARG) def. Jorgelina Cravero (ARG)/Frederica Piedade (POR) 7-6 (4), 6-3