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
-
NewsCoronavirus vaccines should be compulsory for tennis players – Andy Murray
The former world number one hopes players would prioritise the good of the sport.
-
NewsJohanna Konta back with coach Dimitri Zavialoff following summer split
Zavialoff guided Konta to the French Open semi-finals last year.
-
ATP TourWinning ATP Finals undefeated a ‘great boost of confidence’ for Grand Slams, says Daniil Medvedev
Confidence high for Daniil Medvedev.
-
ATP TourAndy Murray on the best-of-five-set matches debate: ‘People often mistake long matches for epics’
What are Murray’s views on best-of-five-set matches?
-
ATP Tour‘I want to climb up the Rankings,’ says Dominic Thiem as he eyes new highs after ‘outstanding year’
Dominic Thiem eyeing top two spots in the ATP Rankings.
-
NewsDaniil Medvedev triumphs in ATP Finals as Australian Open uncertainty continues
Medvedev won the biggest title of his career.
-
NewsDaniil Medvedev hopes ATP Finals a sign of things to come with young guns forming ‘great rivalries’
Russian completed an unbeaten week at The O2.
-
NewsDaniil Medvedev is last man standing in London as he beats Dominic Thiem to win 2020 ATP Finals
Medvedev came from a set down to defeat Thiem.
-
NewsEnd of Big Three era? A look at state of men’s game after Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s ATP Finals exit
Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have dominated men’s game.
-
ATP TourDominic Thiem on expanding Andy Murray’s one-man club against the Big Three: ‘It’s super special’
A milestone win for Dominic Thiem.