| Vania King (USA) |
7 (2) |
6 |
| Asia Muhammed (USA) |
6 |
0 |
It was Kid’s Day on and off the court at the 2007 Acura Classic as two teenagers got together for a first-round match on the Grandstand Court at the La Costa Resort and Spa.
Eighteen-year-old Vania King of Long Beach faced up-and-coming Asia Muhammed, a 16-year-old from Las Vegas.
Following a thrilling first set, King coasted to a 7-6 (2), 6-0 victory, which took one-hour and 29 minutes.
Muhammed got off to a good start as she served an ace to open the match. At 2-2 in the first set, she lost her serve at love, but broke back in the very next game.
King and Muhammed each held serve to force the set into a tiebreak, which proved to be the turning point of the match for King.
In the first point of the tiebreak, there was a lengthy rally which Muhammed finished off at the net with a beautiful forehand volley winner to take a 1-0 lead.
However, King took advantage of a string of unforced errors by Muhammed and won five straight points. When the tiebreak score reached 6-2, King won the set as Muhammed double faulted.
King, who converted on all four of her break-point opportunities, won the second set in 33 minutes as she broke Muhammed’s three times, twice at love, to win the match and advance to the second round.
- This was the first head-to-head match between King and Muhammed.
- King is ranked 86 in the world.
- King advances to a second round match against second-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia.
- King is making her second career Acura Classic appearance. She lost in the first round of the main draw in 2006 as a qualifier.
- King has represented the U.S. in Fed Cup play.
- Last October, King won her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles event in Bangkok, Thailand.
- Muhammed is ranked 709 in the world.
- Muhammed won the Acura Classic Opportunity tournament at the San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club earlier this month and was awarded a wildcard into the main draw.
- Muhammed was making her Acura Classic debut.
- Muhammed trains at the Andre Agassi Boys and Girls Club in Las Vegas.
- Muhammed won her first career pro singles title last month at the Houston Pro Tennis Classic, a $10,000 USTA Pro Circuit event as a qualifier.
For more match summaries, please click here.
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