Kalieva rallies past Valdmannova to reach US Open main draw

Elvina Kalieva came from a set down to beat Vendula Valdmannova 5-7 6-4 6-4 in the final round of US Open qualifying. The American's serve carried her through the turnaround: she struck seven aces to her opponent's one and won 67.2% of her first-serve points, enough to offset a modest 57.5% first-serve rate. Valdmannova landed more first serves at 63.6% but was undone behind the second delivery, winning just 48.7% of those points and coughing up seven double faults to Kalieva's four. The reward for Kalieva is a place in the main draw at her home Grand Slam.