Tararudee edges Jones 7-5 7-5 in Cincinnati qualifying

Lanlana Tararudee came through the tighter of straight-setters in the Cincinnati qualifying semifinals, taking both sets by the same 7-5 margin against Emerson Jones. The Thai landed only 42.7 percent of her first serves, but she made them count, winning 65.8 percent of those points to Jones's 60.0. The decisive gap came behind the second delivery, where Tararudee won 43.1 percent against just 31.2 percent for the Australian, enough to shape both late-set swings. Each player struck two aces and dropped six double faults, leaving little else to separate them. The win carried Tararudee into the final round of qualifying.