A spot in the next round is at stake on Saturday, when Mananchaya Sawangkaew goes up against Tatjana Maria in the Newport semifinal. Tatjana Maria has won 3 in a row and 7 of the last 10 overall. Mananchaya Sawangkaew is rolling — 3 straight wins, 6 of 10 in recent play.
This is the first career meeting between the two, which means no head-to-head baggage on either side of the net.
On paper it's close: comparable ratings, comparable serve numbers, small margins everywhere. Sawangkaew comes in off a compressed schedule; Maria comes in off a compressed schedule. Little separates them; Maria gets the nod on the finest of margins.