Knutson beats Lepchenko 6-1 7-5 in US Open qualifying

Gabriela Andrea Knutson came through US Open qualifying quarterfinals with a 6-1 7-5 win over Varvara Lepchenko, running away with the first set before holding her nerve in a much tighter second. The difference lay in what each player did behind the first serve: Knutson won 74.2 percent of those points to Lepchenko's 50.0, a gap wide enough to cover her modest 56.4 percent first-serve landing rate. Both women struck two aces and both dropped five double faults, but Lepchenko's 39.1 percent on second serve left her under constant pressure. Knutson moved a step closer to the main draw.