MY ACCOUNT
Elise Mertens claimed her first WTA title of the year after defeating Alize Cornet in straight sets to capture the Jasmin Open crown on Sunday.
The world number 42 reeled off the last 11 games as she soared to a dominant 6-2 6-0 victory after just 80 minutes in Monastir.
Mertens landed the seventh WTA title of her career – and first since the 2021 Gippsland Trophy – following a timely return to form off the back of a disappointing 2022 that had seen her reach just two quarter-finals.
The Belgian overcame Cornet in three sets when they met in St. Petersburg earlier this year, and she quickly gained the upper hand in the fifth contest between the pair.
Mertens rescued two break points to hold for 2-2, before breaking twice as she eventually cruised to the opening set.
A late wildcard in Tunisia, Cornet had progressed to her first final since Chicago last year without dropping a set, and was targeting her first silverware since triumphing in Gstaad four years ago.
But the world number 37 could not establish any momentum in her quest to get back into the final; nine double-faults certainly hindering her intentions.
Mertens fully capitalised. The fifth seed won 83 per cent of her first-service points, while breaking a further three times as she breezed to a commanding victory.
