Mertens too hot for Kanepi in Gippsland Trophy final

Belgian Elise Mertens defeated Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi, 6-4, 6-1, to win her sixth WTA singles title at the Gippsland Trophy in Melbourne today.

Mertens was in control throughout as she took just 68 minutes to see off her opponent.

World No. 20 Mertens last won an event in Doha two years ago, and had previously won the Hobart Open in 2017.

Mertens hit a superb backhand winner to take a 3-0 lead, but Kanep fought back before, at 5-3, the Belgian served to take out the set.

Kaia Kanepi loses to Elise Mertens in the Gippsland Trophy final. Photo: Tennis Australia/ Rob Prezioso

The second set was a formality as the 35-year-old Kanepi could not match her opponent around the court.

Mertens won six straight games as she cruised to a 5-0 lead in the second set and then then hit an ace to take out the match.

The Gippsland Trophy doubles final went the way of No.1-seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova of there Czech Republic, who beat the Chan sisters from Chinese Taipei, Latisha and Hao-ching, 6-3, 7-6(4).

Peter Rowe

Recent Posts

Nadal goes down in final match

Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…

3 days ago

Sinner flattens de Minaur in runaway home start

Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…

2 weeks ago

Madcap Medvedev suffers temperamental Turin Finals loss

Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…

2 weeks ago

Team Sinner considering skipping Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…

2 weeks ago

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

1 month ago

Wimbledon lowers the boom on human linecalling

Wimbledon on Wednesday brought an end to human linecalling at the most traditional of the…

1 month ago