Since 2017, Elise Mertens could have won at least 1 tournament every year, with the exception of the corona season 2020. That statistic threatened to come to an end this year, but Mertens still won her title late in the season.
It was clear that Mertens was on the track against Alizé Cornet with a mission. She was helped by the Frenchwoman, who piled up the mistakes (9 double faults!), but after a similar start, Cornet simply didn’t know how to make arrows from what wood anymore.
After 2-2, Mertens won 10 games in a row. Cornet didn’t win any more. The best Belgian player crowned the work with a blank game.
“I have no words for this today. I did not expect to win this tournament this week,” Elise Mertens reacted after the final. “It was a very tough year, but I never stopped believing in myself. That’s the most important thing.”
Mertens won 10 games in a row against Cornet. “I came on the field to win. You could see that, I think. I was very consistent and she couldn’t do much. I made few mistakes and hit aggressively.”
“It was of course a bit stressful because it had been a long time since I played a final. But I now have my 7th title in my pocket and that makes me very proud.”
