Fast-rising Mertens powers into semis
MELBOURNE, Australia — A year after opting out of qualifying for the Australian Open, Elise Mertens has reached the semifinals in her debut at the season-opening Grand Slam.
Mertens upset fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 on Tuesday to extend her winning streak to 10 and become the first woman to reach the semifinals at Melbourne Park.
She’s the first Belgian since Kim Clijsters in 2012 to reach a semifinal in Australia, and knew she had support at home.
“Kim, thanks for watching, I knew you sent me a message before the match — don’t be too stressy,” said Mertens, who trains at Clijsters’ academy.
Mertens was one of the biggest movers on the women’s tour in 2017, improving her ranking from 120 to 35 and winning her first career title.
She will play either secondseeded Caroline Wozniacki or Carla Suarez Navarro, who met in a quarterfinal late Tuesday.
Mertens, ranked 37th, successfully defended her Hobart International title — she decided last year to target that title instead of entering Open qualifying — two weeks ago, and has won five matches at Melbourne Park.
Mertens dominated Svitolina, who also entered on a ninematch winning roll after winning the Brisbane International two weeks ago.
On the men’s side, England’s unseeded Kyle Edmund knocked off third-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Edmund, a 23year-old who reached a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time, came into the match with a career record of 55-64.
In another quarterfinal late Tuesday, top-seeded Rafael Nadal was set to play No. 6 Marin Cilic.
In other quarterfinals played late Monday: Six-time champ Novak Djokovic was eliminated by Hyeon Chung, a 21-year-old South Korean who grew up idolizing and emulating the former world No. 1. Chung prevailed 7-6 (4), 7-5, 7-6 (3).
American Tennys Sandgren is next for Chung in a matchup of unseeded players. Sandgren’s five-set upset of No. 5 seed Dominic Thiem was arguably the bigger surprise Monday.
“I don’t know if this is a dream or not,” Sandgren said to the crowd in his on-court interview after his 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (7-9), 6-3 victory. “All you guys are here, and I’m not in my underwear, so maybe it’s not a dream.”
One could understand Sandgren’s uncertainty. At 26, the Tennessee native has spent most of his career in tennis’ minor leagues: the satellite and challenger circuits. He had yet to win a match at a Grand Slam tournament when he arrived in Melbourne this year.
Roger Federer, the defending champion who has yet to lose a set this year, defeated Marton Fucsovics 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.
Top-seeded woman Simona Halep cruised by Japan’s Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-2.