Elise Mertens wins Lugano singles and doubles titles
Elise Mertens first beat Aryna Sabalenka to win the Samsung Open singles title and then partnered with Kirsten Flipkens to win the doubles.
The second seed from Belgium won her second WTA Tour title of the year and third overall as she beat Sabalenka 7-5, 6-2 in under 90 minutes.
The 22-year-old was in charge early on as she broke the Belarusian in the third game, but Sabalenka hit back in game six only to lose her serve again in game 11.
Mertens kept the pressure on in the second set as she broke in the first game and again in game seven to ease to victory.
.@Elise_Mertens is your @WTASamsungOpen champion!
Downs Sabalenka, 7-5, 6-2 for second WTA title of 2018! pic.twitter.com/b2CUYRWKAt
— WTA (@WTA) April 15, 2018
“So many games were 40-40 and it could have gone either way,” Mertens said. “But I’m really happy that I pulled through yesterday and the day before, because these weren’t easy. It was a great match today and I hope everyone here today liked it!”
Both players were back on court not long after to compete in the doubles, and again it was Mertens who came out on top as she partnered with Flipkens to claim a 6-1, 6-3 win over Sabalenka and Vera Lapko.
Latest
-
NewsVictoria Azarenka reaches Italian Open quarters after Daria Kasatkina injury
Kasatkina rolled her ankle during the first set of the third-round match.
-
NewsNovak Djokovic survives tough first set on way to beating Filip Krajinovic
Djokovic and Krajinovic played an 87-minute opening set.
-
NewsJohanna Konta ends short-term coaching arrangement with Thomas Hogstedt
Konta and Hogstedt agreed the partnership was not a good fit.
-
NewsNaomi Osaka withdraws from French Open due to lingering injury
The world number three said her “hamstring is still sore so I won’t have enough time to prepare for the clay”.
-
NewsCoronavirus surge forces further restrictions on Roland Garros spectator numbers for French Open
Only 5,000 fans a day permitted.
-
NewsJohanna Konta bagels Begu to march impressively into third round at Italian Open
The British number into round three.
-
-
-
Tennis News‘I feel comfortable on clay, I always have,’ says Simona Halep as she targets Roland Garros repeat
Romanian happy to be back.
-
Tennis NewsNovak Djokovic confirms he has spoken to ATP as he pushes ahead with Players Association plans
Serb says PTPA is misunderstood.