22 year-old Belgian Elise Mertens continued her amazing start to 2018. The youngster defeated World No.4 Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 to reach the Australian Open semi-finals.
Both women came into the tournament in fantastic form. Mertens had won the pre-tournament event in Hobart, and Svitolina also came into the tournament unbeaten having won the title in Brisbane. Both were also looking to reach a grand slam semi-final for the first time.
It was the higher-ranked Ukrainian who would lose her 100% record in 2018. Things looked good for the favourite when she threatened the break in the opening Mertens service game of the match. The Belgian would hold a service game lasting seven minutes, before then breaking herself.
Svitolina was struggling with her first serve delivery. To make matters harder, she was winning very few points behind her second serve, putting additional pressure on that serve.
Mertens, already with a lead, broke again for 5-2, though was immediately pegged back when trying to serve out the first time. The World No.37 made no mistake the second time serving out to thirty.
Mertens played freely in the second set. She broke quickly, and backed it up with a love service hold. The pressure continued to hit the Svitolina second serve, and she was broken for the fourth time. Mertens survived a deuce hold, before breaking again. Svitolina tried to at least hold a game, but her serving percentage numbers stayed too low, as Mertens continued to ruthlessly break down the Ukrainian’s serve.
Mertens completed the win with a hold to win a one-sided second set. For Mertens, the win ensures that she takes her place in the last four of a grand slam for the first time. For World No.4 Svitolina, that elusive appearance in such a stage of a slam continues to elude her.
Mertens waits for Carla Suarez Navarro or second seed Caroline Wozniacki in the last four. Regardless of whether she wins that match, Mertens will move to a new career-high ranking somewhere inside the Top 20. Her current best ranking is No.35.
