Hontama edges Gjorcheska in straight sets at US Open qualifying

Mai Hontama came through the US Open qualifying quarterfinals with a 7-6, 6-3 win over Lina Gjorcheska, taking the tight opening set in a tiebreak and pulling clear in the second. The difference lay behind the serve: Gjorcheska landed only 59.3% of her first deliveries and won just 27.3% of her second-serve points, while coughing up 12 double faults. Hontama, by contrast, was steady at 73.4% first serves in and remarkably productive on her second, winning 76.5% of those points despite only two double faults. The Japanese player moved another step closer to the main draw.