Tararudee outlasts Kalieva in three sets at US Open opener

Lanlana Tararudee came through a three-set opening-round test at the US Open, beating Elvina Kalieva 6-3 6-7 6-2 to reach the second round. The Thai leaned heavily on her first delivery, landing only 49.1 percent of them but winning 82.1 percent of those points and firing 11 aces. The trade-off was obvious behind the second ball, where she took just 37.9 percent and coughed up six double faults, enough to let Kalieva force a tie-break in the second. Kalieva served more reliably, at 65.3 percent, yet won only 63.3 percent of her first-serve points, and the deciding set slipped away quickly.