Qatar Total Open: Unseeded Mertens Reaches Semi-Finals After Beating No. 5 Seed

Doha, February 15 (QNA) - Unseeded Elise Mertens reached the semi-finals of Qatar Total Open after a strong performance that saw her beat No.5 seed Kiki Bertens, winning in straight sets to seal her spot in the semifinals. Mertens struck 12 winners and kept her unforced error count contained to 19, while Bertens 23 winners were undone by her 40 unforced errors. Bertens booming serve lacked bite, too, against Mertens returns, striking just one ace across both sets. Up against Bertens, the first player to strike more than 100 aces in 2019 and the winner of last months St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, Mertens had to dig deep to produce her best tennis at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex. (QNA)