Dimitrov serves past Skatov 7-6 6-4 in US Open qualifying

Grigor Dimitrov came through a tight straight-setter against Timofey Skatov, 7-6 6-4, in the US Open qualifying semifinals. The Bulgarian's serve was the difference: 17 aces to his opponent's four, 68.2 percent of first deliveries landed, and 86.7 percent of those first-serve points won, a level that left Skatov with almost nothing to attack in the tiebreak. Skatov, by contrast, made only 44.0 percent of his first serves and won 67.6 percent behind them, and though he held up well on second serve at 63.8 percent, four double faults added to the strain. Dimitrov moved a win from the main draw.