By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, February 2, 2025
No. 2-seeded Elise Mertens defeated American Ann Li 6-1, 6-4 in today's Singapore final to capture her ninth career championship.
Photo credit: Singapore Tennis Open Facebook
Elise Mertens is flying high again.
The second-seeded Mertens defeated American Ann Li 6-1, 6-4 in today's Singapore Tennis Open final to capture her ninth career championship.
MORE: Monica Puig Announces Pregnancy
It is Mertens' first singles title since 2023 Monastir.
World No. 32 Mertens, who opened the season reaching the Hobart final, dropped only one set in five tournament wins over Taylor Townsend, Tatjana Maria, sixth-seeded Camila Osorio, fourth-seeded Xinyu Wang and Li.
In a confident performance, Mertens broke serve to open and won eight of the first nine games soaring to a 6-1, 2-0 lead.
Li, who toppled top-seeded Anna Kalinskaya in the semifinals, broke back in the third game of the second set and eventually levelled for 4-all.
Lifting her level when she needed to, Mertens won 12 of the last 14 points played on her serve for a one-set, 5-4 lead.
World No. 85 Li fought hard but found the net with a final forehand as Mertens wrapped up a strong win in 82 minutes, saving four of five break points.