By Tennis Now | @TennisNow | Thursday, January 30, 2025
Photo credit: Singapore Open Facebook
Elise Mertens made a committed comeback to continue a seed surge in Singapore.
The second-seeded Mertens rallied past Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-1 into the Singapore Open quarterfinals.
More: Sinner and Cahill to Part After 2025
“It was a tough match today,” Mertens said. “In the first set, I had a bit of a slow start.
“But, overall, I turned the match around well, coming in a bit more aggressive and coming towards the net a little bit to shorten the points and it eventually went my way.”
Mertens will meet Colombia’s Camila Osorio for a semifinal spot. World No. 32 Mertens is 2-0 lifetime vs. the sixth-seeded Osorio; this will be their first meeting on hard courts.
Four of the top six seeds reached the quarterfinals.
Top-seeded Anna Kalinskaya takes on Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew for a spot in the Singapore semifinals.
Australian Kimberly Birrell pulled off an inspired comeback.
Birrell trailed American Hailey Baptiste 2-5 in the final set before rousing herself through a five-game run to complete a 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-5 comeback victory.
A determined Birrell broke serve four times in a punishing two hour, 50-minute victory.
Next up for Birrell is a showdown with American Anne Li for a place in the semifinals.
.aspx?w=360&resize=360,180&ssl=1 "Iga’s Grass Secret Weapon: Instinct")
