LONDON: Belgium’s Elise Mertens stayed solid against an error-prone Angelique Kerber of Germany to defeat the former Wimbledon champion 6-4, 7-5 on Friday and advance to the fourth round.
Mertens achieved her best performance at the grass court Grand Slam in 2019 when she reached the round of 16 and entered Friday’s competition after defeating the three-time Major winner in their only previous meeting three years ago.
The 26-year-old Belgian, who finished 12th in his career in 2018, had to save two match points against Panna Udvardy in a second-round match that lasted three hours and 15 minutes and spanned two days.
Their third-lap clash was much more comfortable.
Mertens interrupted left-hander Kerber’s delivery in the fourth game and served up for the 5-3 opening set, only Kerber able to hit back.
But the Belgian didn’t lose her composure and broke the heart of the 2018 Wimbledon winner.
Appearing in her 51st straight Major, 34-year-old Kerber appeared to have regained the momentum as she cracked Mertens’ delivery to take a 5-3 lead in the second set.
But when the former world no.
Mertens, who won the doubles in 2021, next meets third-seeded Ons Jabeur of Tunisia for a place in the quarters.