Elise Mertens gave the crowd quite a scare at the U.S. Open Monday. The 20-year-old Belgian nearly had an upset brewing until the skills of Spain’s Garbine Muguruza came alive to dictate the remainder of the match. The third seed took the match in three sets winning 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 at Louis Armstrong Stadium at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center.
The French Open champion came in against an unknown opponent to her. She hoped that with her recent success on the tour she could be one to get out of the first round. The Belgian ended qualifications with a strong win in straight sets to get the chance to play on a big stage. While she carries little hope for a win against the world number three, the 22-year-old would give it her all in any case.
In a surprise to some and a delight to others, the Belgian went and took the first two games breaking Muguruza who hadn’t quite found her rhythm. She went down another game with ten unforced errors to her name while Mertens managed only one through three games. The changeover seemed to help the Spaniard who got on the attack to set up a break that was won by an unforced error into the net by the Belgian.
A second break went to Mertens who increased the margin to three games. She watched Muguruza strike back with a second win in the set but holding her off the serve was becoming huge for Mertens who served for the set lead. She got to a triple set point only to double fault and get the Spaniard in the game. On the second attempt, Mertens gave Muguruza a chance on the rally to move the ball and get to 30-40.
When it looked like hope was starting to come back. She put it to an end herself smashing the ball into the net on Mertens’s third set point attempt that ended things in 30 minutes. It was Muguruza’s 17th unforced error of the match and a huge cause for concern. During the break, the Spaniard called for the trainer to come out which led a doctor to show up on court. After a check and some medication, play resumed with her serving to start the second set.
Muguruza came out guns blazing on service and won it by a double point. The same occurred for a break to take a 2-0 lead and a hold of serve for a three game winning streak. It was quickly a landslide victory for Muguruza who went up 5-0 playing to level the match at a set apiece. Although it took seven breaks due to a desperate fight from the Belgian, the Spaniard got the bagel to go into a third set with the hope of avoiding the upset.
After the required ten-minute break from the excessive heat, the players returned with Muguruza speeding through her opening serve to take the opening lead. After a hold of serve from Mertens, the world number three took over and climbed to a 3-1 lead that gave her some comfort eyeing the finish line.
The set took a dramatic turn as Mertens began a comeback to level back with Muguruza at three games all. The seventh was a huge point for both who fought for the lead but in the end it was the Spaniard who escaped with the victory. Another put Muguruza in familiar territory serving for the match in the ninth still fending off the challenge from the Belgian. With one last force of strength, Muguruza held her end leading 40-30 capturing match point to complete 1 hour and 57 minutes.
“The first matches at a Grand Slam are very tough and very nervous,” Muguruza said after the match. “She (Mertens) played very well. She played three qualifying matches so she had a lot of confidence which made me fight for this match.” She’ll play against Anastasija Sevastova on Wednesday which the Spaniard feels isn’t time to relax. “I’m gonna fight,” she said about going on in the tournament. “The Grand Slams are the goal for us and I’m just focusing on every match. Hopefully every time I go to court I win the match and I go deep into the tournament.”
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