Elise Mertens wins Qatar Total Open
Doha, Qatar: When Simona Halep started with a break of serve of her opponent Elise Mertens in the final of the Qatar Total Open on Saturday, and repeated it thrice in a strange first set, little did she or the fans know what was in store for them. But the glorious uncertainty of sport is what makes it so endearing, so thrilling.
Mertens served a fresh reminder of that unpredictable nature with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory which gave the Belgian world No.21 the biggest victory of her career.
Halep had lit up the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Friday with her breath-taking finish to the semifinal against Elina Svitova, but Saturday belonged to Mertens.
After losing the first set in which both players struggled with their serves, Mertens also had to take a medical time out to get treatment on her sore back when she was down a break at the start of the second set.
And she was a miraculously transformed player after that.
The 23-year old broke Halep right back, and after holding her serve in three games, did it again in the ninth game to go 5-4 up.
Halep tried to get back into the set but Mertens held her serve to win 6-4.
Mertens broke her former world No.1 Halep again at the start of the third set and managed to hold her serve in a marathon 10-minute effort. Though Halep broke Mertens to make it 2-2, the unseeded player, who had managed just six games from their two previous meetings, broke back right away to hold the advantage at 3-2.
She then held on to her next two service games for a 5-3 lead.
Halep was serving to stay in the match, but Mertens was not going to let go of the chance for the biggest win of her career. And at 15-40, when the 2014 Doha champion's backhand sailed over the line, Mertens sunk into her knees momentarily before coming up with a gleaming smile on her face.
"It's nice to win this trophy. This means a lot," said Mertens after the win. "Thank you for the support. I also want to thank Qatar for making this possible. It's unbelievably well organised. I hope to keep coming back for many years.
"I have my coach David (Taylor) with me but I also want to thank my team back home, said Mertens at the trophy distribution ceremony attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al Thani, CEO of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development; Nasser al Khelaifi, President, Qatar Tennis Federation and Saad al Mohannadi, Tournament Director, besides officials of Total Qatar.
HE Sheikh Joaan, Qatar Olympic Committee President also graced the final.
Halep was gracious in defeat, lavishly praising her opponent.
"I wanted to lift this beautiful trophy once again, but sadly I couldn't. Elise deserves it very much. 'Congrats Elise and you had a great week and I wish you good luck for the future. You are a great player," said Halep.
"Coming here and being able to play in the final is a great feeling and I really want to thank the people who made this tournament," said Halep. "And always when I come here I come with an open heart and that's why I play my best tennis here."
But on Saturday, the better tennis came from the other side of the court.
