‘Up and down’ Elise Mertens dashes Maria Sakkari’s Zhuhai hopes

Shahida Jacobs 24 Oct 2019 9:12 AM

Elise Mertens produced a mix bag, but still proved to be too strong for Maria Sakkari at the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai.

The Belgian took one hour and 44 minutes to get the better of Sakkari, winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

👏👏 @elise_mertens claims victory in three sets against Sakkari, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, at the @WTAEliteTrophy pic.twitter.com/4ElHMg4gPH

— WTA (@WTA) October 23, 2019

Mertens broke twice in the first set, but both players struggled on serve in the second set as there were five breaks with Sakkari edging it 3-2.

The sixth seed then took charge of the deciding set as she raced into a 5-1 lead on the back of three breaks with the win ending Sakkari’s hopes of reaching the semi-final.

“Just went a little bit up and down, my level,” Mertens said. “I tried too much, I think, in the second set. She played better, so all credit to her. In the third set I just tried to step up my game a little bit, a little bit more aggressive, make some balls, just to try to build a point and then go for it.”

In the Azalea Group, Donna Vekic’s tournament also came to a halt as she was beaten 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 by the 10th seeded Dayana Yastremska from the Ukraine.