(Q) Elise Mertens v (3) Monica Niculescu
Centre Court, not before 2.30 pm
Head-to-head: First meeting
The Hobart International 2017 singles champion will be crowned today… will it be an up-and-coming star of the game enjoying a breakthrough run and searching for a maiden WTA title? Or an experienced campaigner renowned for her fighting spirit and chasing her fourth career title? The scene is set for a fascinating and contrasting women’s singles final…
ELISE MERTENS
Age: 21
From: Belgium
Ranking: No.127
Merten’s road to semifinal…
Qualifying round one – def. (5) Nao Hibino (JPN) 6-3 6-4
Qualifying round two – def. Dalma Galfi (HUN) 6-1 6-1
Qualifying final round – def. Sachia Vickery (USA) 6-4 6-2
Main draw round one – def. (7) Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 6-1 6-2
Main draw round two – def. (LL) Sachia Vickery (USA) 0-1 ret.
Main draw quarterfinal – def. (1) Kiki Bertens (NED) 6-2 7-5
Main draw semifinal – def. (Q) Jana Fett (CRO) 6-4 6-0
Mertens says: “She’s an experienced player, she’s higher-ranked than me, I’ll probably be the underdog a little bit but I’m just going to play my game and give it all.”
Key stat: Only two qualifiers have ever won the Hobart International title, German Mona Barthel in 2012 and Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in 2014.
Fast fact: Mertens trains at the Kim Clijsters Academy and lists the former world No.1 as a mentor. Clijsters won the Hobart International singles title as a 16-year-old in 2000. Current Fed Cup captain Dominque Monami is also a former champion at the tournament (winning in 1997) and has been following Mertens’ progress this week. Can she follow in their footsteps?
MONICA NICULESCU
Age: 29
From: Romania
Ranking: No.40
Niculescu’s road to semifinal…
Main draw round one – def. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 6-2 6-3
Main draw round two – def. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-3 6-2
Main draw quarterfinal – def. (Q) Risa Ozaki (JPN) 6-4 6-4
Main draw semifinal – def. Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) w/o
Niculescu says: “I’m happy to be here in Hobart and to have my best result in eight years, it’s a very good feeling. I’m playing some good tennis and beat some good girls in this tournament, so very happy to be here and in the final.”
Key stat: Niculescu has spent four hours and 54 minutes on court so far this tournament, compared to Mertens’ six hours and 46 minutes.
Fast fact: This is Niculescu’s eighth visit to Hobart and the first time she has progressed past the quarterfinals in singles. She’s no stranger to playing on finals day though – she won the doubles title in 2012 and 2014, and was a finalist in 2010 and 2015.