Elise Mertens successfully entered the Australian Open tennis tournament on Monday evening in Melbourne. The Belgian No. 1, 34th in the world, with great difficulty dismissed the Swiss Viktorija Golubic, 95th in the world, from qualifying in the first round. The match ended with a score of 4-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 after a duel which lasted 2 hours and 47 minutes.
The 32-year-old from Zurich, of Croatian origin and former world number 35, won the first set narrowly in 39 minutes, taking advantage of her first break point at 4-5. It is true that the Belgian’s service was not very efficient until then.
Mertens reacted and also took advantage of her first break point to take the lead in the second set (1-0). The finalist of the recent WTA 250 tournament in Hobart confirmed her break (2-0). The level rose and the meeting became indecisive. If the Belgian most often led the exchanges, the Swiss defended well, pushed Mertens to make a mistake and equalized at 5-5. In the deciding game, Mertens led 2/0 before conceding the next four points (2/4). With confidence, the Swiss N.1 offered itself two match points (4/6) which the Belgian N.1 brushed aside. Confidence changed sides and Mertens concluded with his 3rd set point (10/8) after 1h49 of play.
The third set started like the first with a break from Elise Mertens (2-0). Golubic equalized at 2-2. The Belgian took over her opponent’s serve at the best time to lead 5-3 serve to follow. The Swiss did not give up and counter-break (5-4) before losing on her own throw-in on the 2nd match point.
Elise Mertens had beaten Golubic, already in three sets, during their only previous meeting in the 2nd round in Istanbul in 2021.
Semi-finalist of the tournament in 2018, her best result in 31 Grand Slam tournaments, the 29-year-old from Limburg was eliminated in the 2nd round last year.
Elise Mertens (WTA D-7) also plays doubles in Melbourne. She is the 6th seed there alongside Australian Ellen Perez (WTA D-13). They will start against the Australians benefiting from an invitation Jaimee Fourlis (WTA D-140) and Petra Hule (WTA D-170).
In the next round (32nd final), Mertens will face the 7th seed and 6th world player Jessica Pegula. A priori a formidable opponent. Except that Mertens has never lost in three matches against the American, recent finalist of the WTA 500 from Adelaide.
mertens australian open tennis
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