Hontama M. beat Gjorcheska L. 7-6, 6-3 at the US Open, taking the opener in a tiebreak and then pulling clear in the second set. The key was return and second-serve strength: Hontama converted 5 of 11 break points, while Gjorcheska finished with 11 double faults.
The first set swung through six breaks in its first nine games — Hontama led 2-0, 3-1 and 5-3, with Gjorcheska answering to 2-1, 4-3 and 5-4 before the tiebreak. In the second set Hontama broke straight away, was pegged back at 2-2, then broke again at 4-3 and sealed the match by breaking for 6-3.
Hontama actually lost the first-serve points battle (51% to 60%), but she dominated second-serve points (75% to 29%) and won 40 return points to 26. That, plus saving 2 of 6 break points faced, carried her through.