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Elise Mertens just barely avoided a shock loss in the Wimbledon second round but on Friday looked much better as she ousted 2018 Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber 6-4 7-5. In the Wimbledon second round, Mertens needed three sets to edge out Panna Udvardy 3-6 7-6 (5) 7-5.
On Friday, Kerber was the favorite but Mertens delivered a strong performance and upset the German. "It was a very difficult match [in the] second round, losing the first set, then down two match points," Mertens said afterward, per the WTA website.
"Playing a third set yesterday, so I kind of feel like I'm on court nonstop. That's also a good sign because I haven't had those matches in the last couple weeks. I felt like, 'OK, let's get some energy, some rallies, some matches in.'
I think that really helped me for today, too, to know that even when you're down that you can come back, mentally being tough."
Mertens handled Kerber in straight sets
Mertens got off to a good start to the match, breaking Kerber in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead.
In the ninth game, Mertens failed to serve out for the first set as Kerber cut the deficit to 4-5. However, Mertens was able to keep her focus as she broke Kerber again in the 10th game, when the German was serving to stay in the match.
After losing the first set, Kerber broke Mertens in the third game to open a 2-1 lead. However, Kerber's lead was short-lived as Mertens broke back in the fourth game to level the set to two games apiece. After blowing an early second set break, Kerber broke Mertens again in the seventh game and served out the next game to open a 5-3 lead.
Kerber then suffered a collapse as Mertens claimed back-to-back breaks and won four games in a row to overturn the deficit and claim a straight-set win. Mertens plays Ons Jabeur next.