Bondar edges Liang in three sets to reach Monterrey main draw

Anna Bondar came through a scrappy qualifying final in Monterrey, beating En Shuo Liang 6-3 4-6 6-1 after losing her grip on the match in the second set. Neither player found much rhythm on first serve — Bondar landed just 51.2 percent, Liang only 45.2 — but the Hungarian was far more punishing when she did, winning 83.3 percent of those points to Liang's 72.7. With both women taking 52.5 percent behind the second ball, that first-serve edge decided things, as did Bondar's five aces and two double faults against Liang's four apiece. The reward was a place in the main draw.