Mertens Stuns Grand Slam Champs in Beijing!

Elise Mertens reached a significant milestone at the China Open, defeating three Grand Slam champions in a single tournament for the first time. The Belgian player achieved this by overcoming Jelena Ostapenko, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek. Mertens secured straight-set victories against Gauff and Swiatek, marking a notable achievement given her previous winless records against them. This performance also made her the first player since 2018 to defeat multiple former China Open champions. Mertens expressed that she "grew into the tournament," highlighting the challenges of each match.

Following her early-round win against Katie Volynets, Mertens navigated through a series of tough matches. Her path included defeating the 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko and then facing Gauff and Swiatek, both of whom had previously won the China Open. Mertens's semifinal opponent was set to be home favorite Zheng Qinwen. The 30-year-old Mertens, who turned professional in 2013, reflected on her journey in Beijing, emphasizing the competitive nature of the tournament.