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Australian Open: Mertens stuns Svitolina to reach semi-finals

Elise Mertens stunned fourth seed Elina Svitolina to reach the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday.

Elise Mertens in action against fourth seed Elina Svitolina

Melbourne, January 23: Elise Mertens stunned fourth seed Elina Svitolina to reach the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday (January 23).

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Mertens, in her first grand slam quarter-final, was too good for Svitolina in a 6-4 6-0 victory in 73 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

The Belgian, ranked 37th in the world, dominated from the outset, pushing her Ukrainian opponent back thanks to her aggression.

Svitolina, whose record dropped to 0-3 in major quarters, had no answers to a player she had beaten in their only previous meeting.

The clash was between two form players, with Svitolina coming into the Australian Open on the back of claiming the title in Brisbane and Mertens having secured the crown in Hobart.

But Mertens powered to her win, taking control from the baseline to move into the last four, where either Caroline Wozniacki or Carla Suarez Navarro await.

Mertens was the aggressor throughout the first set, stepping inside the court to dictate to her favoured opponent.

The Belgian broke to love in the third game and then took a 5-2 lead before showing some nerves on her way to closing out the set.

Svitolina was broken again to start the second set as Mertens cruised, a tough hold in the fourth game crucial as she booked a last-four spot.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

Mertens bt Svitolina [4] 6-4 6-0

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS

Mertens – 26/16

Svitolina – 14/19

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS

Mertens – 2/2

Svitolina – 3/0

BREAK POINTS WON

Mertens – 5/9

Svitolina – 1/2

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE

Mertens – 66

Svitolina – 52

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE

Mertens – 67/65

Svitolina – 52/40

TOTAL POINTS

Mertens – 61

Svitolina – 41

Source: OPTA

Story first published: Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 9:40 [IST]
Other articles published on Jan 23, 2018