Gorgodze edges Papamichail in two tiebreaks at US Open qualifying

Ekaterine Gorgodze came through one of the tightest matches of US Open qualifying, beating Despina Papamichail 7-6 7-6 in the semifinals without either set being settled before a tiebreak. The Georgian's serve was the steadier platform: she landed 86.2 percent of her first deliveries and hit no double faults at all, winning 62.3 percent of first-serve points and 54.5 percent behind her second. Papamichail found only 61.8 percent of her first serves and took 54.0 percent of those points, with two aces offset by two double faults. That margin of control was enough to carry Gorgodze into the final qualifying round.