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Elise Mertens (23, 3)Elise Mertens (WTA-23) has failed to win the Prague clay tournament in the Czech capital. Our compatriot lost against Simona Halep, the number 2 in the world, in two sets.
It was the fifth time that both tennis players looked each other in the eye. Mertens had won one of those meetings.
In this final, Halep dictated the law after a hesitant start from the Romanian first seed. Mertens immediately ran 0-2 with a service break, but Halep put things in order and won no less than 6 games in a row.
In set 2, Mertens was able to offer more resistance and an intense physical battle ensued. After some service breaks it went from 2-2 to 4-2 for Halep and finally a tie at 4-4 and 5-5.
But when Mertens had to hand in her serve again, Halep was able to serve for the game and the stocking was finished after 1 hour and 35 minutes for Mertens.
28-year-old Halep takes her 21st WTA title in Prague. For her it is a successful comeback after the corona break, because it was only her first tournament since February.
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