Virtanen beats Blanchet 6-4 6-4 in US Open qualifying

Otto Virtanen came through the US Open qualifying quarterfinals with a controlled 6-4 6-4 win over Ugo Blanchet, the Finn edging both sets without ever letting the margin stretch. His serve did the heavy lifting in the most extreme way: 15 aces against Blanchet's one, and 82.1 percent of first-serve points won, even though only 53.4 percent of those first serves landed. The 11 double faults were the obvious flaw, with just 50 percent of second-serve points won, but Virtanen's raw power outweighed them. Blanchet, steadier at 58.9 percent first serves in and 69.7 percent won behind them, never found the same ceiling, and the Finn moved a step closer to the main draw.