French Open: Belgium's Elise Mertens defeats Jessica Pegula to reach fourth round

Belgium’s Elise Mertens stuns World No. 3 Jessica Pegula in two sets to reach Round Four

Belgian Elise Mertens sent American third seed Jessica Pegula crashing out of the French Open with a comprehensive victory in the Last 32 on Friday. 

The 28th seed cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier to reach the fourth round for the third time. World No. 3 Pegula, who only has two WTA Tour titles to her name, has still never passed the quarter-final stage of a Grand Slam tournament. 

“I’m very happy to win in two sets. She’s a very good player,” said Mertens. The former Australian Open semi-finalist will next face the winner of an all-Russian tie between Anastasia Potapova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. 

World No. 3 Jessica Pegula

One-sided first set

Mertens raced through a one-sided first set before Pegula raised her level in the second. 

The players traded breaks early on before Mertens struck again for a 4-3 lead. She then saved three break points to move within one game of victory and quickly closed it out on her first match point. 

Aryna Sabalenka. Pic/AFP

Sabalenka in Last 16

Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka booked her place in the French Open Last 16 for the first time with a straight-sets win over Russian Kamilla Rakhimova at Roland Garros on Friday. The Belarusian second seed is yet to drop a set in the tournament after a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win against the World No. 82. Sabalenka is one of the favourites for the championship after a fine start to the year, including securing her maiden Grand Slam triumph in Melbourne and lifting the Madrid Open title.

Also Read: French Open: Teen Mirra Andreeva sets sights on 25 Grand Slams

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