IT’S CURTAINS FOR MERTENS

A MARATHON win in the cold, rain and wind over the Hobart International’s top seed Elise Mertens at the Domain Tennis Centre last night has British Bulldog Heather Watson bubbling with confidence heading into the semifinals today.

A game that started shortly after 3pm did not wrap up until 8.16pm thanks to five rain delays and unusually long games.

After making her way through the qualifying rounds last weekend, Watson, 27, Britain’s second-top women’s player, was pumped when she walked off with a 6-7 (7-5), 6-4, 7-5 win over the Belgian.

The Hobart crowd loved every minute of the titanic struggle, won by the 2015 Hobart champion over the tournament’s 2017 and 2018 winner, who ended the contest limping with a hip injury.

“What a battle,” Watson said. “I’ve played Elise three times before this and she’s beaten me every time.

“I am very happy to get the win and with the way I played, especially with all the rain and delays. Every game and every point was super-long.

“It was a big test for me against a top player — one

I’ve never beaten before — and it was good to bring such a high level of tennis just before the Australian Open.”

Watson won 62 per cent of her first serves compared to Mertens’ 55 per cent, but managed only 46 per cent on her second serve to Mertens’ 50.

“It was just staying there and fighting for every point,” Watson said. “I wanted to make sure I gave everything I had, win or lose.”

Watson’s strategy was to keep Mertens busy and not let

her set up camp in the middle. “She’s very dangerous when she’s in the middle of the court so I definitely wanted to move her around,” Watson said.

“Tactically, I picked on certain sides more than others and tried to get a lot of angle against her.”

The rain stoppages did not mess with Watson’s focus.

“I kind of expect it in Hobart — I’ve had it so many times before,” she said.

“I was very relaxed in the breaks. I didn’t overthink it.”