Balshaw beats Pow in straight sets in Winston-Salem qualifying

Felix Balshaw came through the Winston-Salem qualifying semifinals with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Luca Pow, taking a tight opening set and then pulling clear in the second. The Frenchman landed only 51.4 percent of his first serves, but he made them count, winning 80.6 percent of those points and hitting eight aces to Pow's two. Even his second delivery held up, at 67.6 percent, enough to cover six double faults. Pow was steadier at 59.4 percent first serves in, yet won just 65.9 percent behind them. The result carried Balshaw into the final qualifying round.