Emma Raducanu overcame jet lag to secure a victory over Elise Mertens in three sets during the first round of the Washington Open.
The 21-year-old British No. 3 triumphed with scores of 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 against the eighth-seeded Belgian, with the match concluding just past 11pm in the U.S. capital.
Raducanu had previously defeated Mertens at Wimbledon earlier this month, dropping only three games, and appeared set for a repeat performance as she dominated the first set by winning five consecutive games, before the toll of travel affected her play.
“I showcased some solid tennis at times, particularly in the first set and brief moments of the third set,” she stated. “I lost my concentration in the second. Competing at 11:30pm isn’t easy. I arrived here Thursday night, so I’m still dealing with jet lag. I kept telling myself, ‘I’m not going anywhere. This isn’t happening. You will not lose this match.’”
Mertens responded in the second set by reducing errors and capitalizing on her only break opportunity to equalize the match, having been down 40-0 in the sixth game.
In the final set, Raducanu broke Mertens early, but failed to capitalize on a 3-1 advantage as Mertens broke back and saved two break points to tie it at 3-3. Raducanu then saved five break points of her own before securing another break, though Mertens countered in the following game as Raducanu served for the match.
Ultimately, the outcome was merely postponed, with Raducanu reaching match point with a backhand volley and clinching the victory thanks to Mertens’ 11th double fault.
