Faria beats Basilashvili 6-4 6-4 in Cincinnati qualifying

Jaime Faria came through the Cincinnati qualifying semifinals with a controlled 6-4 6-4 win over Nikoloz Basilashvili, taking each set by a single break's worth of margin. The Portuguese was the sharper server throughout, landing 64.2% of his first deliveries and winning 76.5% of those points, with ten aces against three double faults. Crucially, his second serve held up too, yielding 73.7% of points won, while Basilashvili managed only 57.1% behind his. The Georgian's 51.4% first-serve rate and four double faults left him under constant pressure, and Faria moved a step closer to the main draw.