Australian Open: Elise Mertens eliminates former number one Garbine Muguruza

Belgium's Elise Mertens (WTA-32) qualified for the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday. She eliminated former world number one Garbine Muguruza (WTA-73) with 3-6, 7-6, 6-1 in two hours and 31 minutes.

The 29-year-old Muguruza has two Grand Slams on her record with Roland-Garros 2016 and Wimbledon 2017 and was a finalist in Melbourne in 2020. However, last year she dropped out of the top 50 after a weak season for the first time since 2013.

Already since the end of September, the Spanish failed to win a match. Unfortunately, so far, 2023 is bringing no improvement: she also went out in the first round in the two tournaments in Adelaide.

Mertens faces American Lauren Davis (WTA-57), winner of last week's tournament in Hobart, or Montenegrin Danka Kovinic (WTA-55) in her next match. The 27-year-old Belgian is competing in Melbourne for the sixth time. On her debut in 2018, she immediately kicked it to the semi-finals. After that, she reached the third round (1/16 final) once and the eighth-finals three times.

^{© WILLIAM WEST / AFP}