Iga Świątek, the top-ranked player in the world, began her pursuit of a third straight victory at the WTA 500 tournament in Stuttgart with an impressive win over Elise Mertens. She secured a straight-sets victory, defeating Mertens 6-3, 6-4 in the second round, extending her winning streak at the tournament to nine matches.
Mertens sought to halt Świątek’s streak, aiming for her first career win against the Polish player. Despite early pressure and two break points from Mertens, Świątek quickly took control, winning the first three games and breaking Mertens’ serve again. Despite Mertens’ resilience, Świątek stayed composed and won the first set.
The second set saw Mertens capitalize on Świątek’s lapses, breaking back to level at 2-2. Yet, Świątek’s resilience prevailed as she thwarted Mertens’ attempts and regained control. At 3-3, Świątek’s masterful shots secured a crucial break, sealing her victory despite Mertens’ determined efforts.
Świątek now progresses to the quarterfinals, where she will face either Emma Raducanu of Great Britain or Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic.
Perfect start 🤩@iga_swiatek stays unbeaten in Stuttgart, getting past Mertens in her opening match of the week!#PorscheTennis pic.twitter.com/aLGIFbxbuE
— wta (@WTA) April 18, 2024
Iga Świątek – Elise Mertens 2-0 (6-3, 6-4)