I wanted to be as good as Henin and Clijsters, says Mertens
dubai — It’s never easy for a rising star that comes from a country that has produced two of the greatest players in the women’s game — Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters.
And the expectations only get bigger if you train at Clijsters’ academy.
But Elise Mertens, the 22-yearold Belgian who grew up idolising Henin and Clijsters, seems to have dealt with the weight of expectations pretty well.
And her finest moment came at this year’s Australian Open where she became only the third Belgian after Henin and Clijsters to reach the semifinals. She did lose that last-four battle against eventual winner Caroline Wozniacki, but that amazing run could prove to be the turning point in her career.
“As a kid I looked up to them (Henin and Clijsters) as they were doing so well. They were both World No.1s and I wanted to be as good as them. I started playing tennis at the age of three and now I can say I’m World No. 20,” Mertens said at the draw for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday.
“Of course, I’m blessed to say I have Kim on my team, so if I have any questions I can ask her and she’ll always answer.” Mertens, who also defended her Hobart title in January, then revealed how Clijsters’s tip helped her win the Australian Open quarterfinal against a tricky opponent — Elina Svitolina.
“Actually in the quarterfinal in Melbourne, she said that I just needed to focus mentally. That’s what I did and I thought that was the best advice that I have got from her. It’s very important to get support from her. If I have some questions, I can always ask her,” she said.
Mertens, who entered the Dubai championships as a qualifier in 2017, now faces a player she has never played before — American teenager Cici Bellis.
“It’s a difficult half of the draw and here everybody can play tennis. I am playing Cici Bellis, I have never played her before. She is a young player but she already has got experience of playing at this level for a few years so it is going to be an interesting match,” Mertens said. “I want to go as far as I can and if my level is there I think I can win a lot of matches. So we will see and I am gonna work hard every day,” she said. If she overcomes the challenge of Bellis, Wimbledon champion Garbiñe Muguruza will be her next opponent.