Mertens ready for Hobart return

6 January 2018, by Leigh Rogers

CHAMPION SHOT: Elise Mertens poses with the winners trophy at Cornelian Bay after her stunning 2017 victory; Getty Images

Defending champion Elise Mertens is returning to Hobart with a different mindset and growing self-confidence after a breakout 2017 season.

Arriving in Hobart as the world No.127 last year, the Belgian player did not expect to walk away with the title. The 21-year-old was aiming to qualify for her fourth WTA-level event, or at least get some match practice before competing in Australian Open qualifying later that week.

But eight wins later, Mertens left Hobart with the biggest smile on her face. Her winning run meant she had to withdraw from Australian Open qualifying – but she got the best consolation prize possible, her first WTA title and a top 100 debut.

“It was really exciting and I didn’t expect it at all,” Mertens reflected.

Becoming the lowest-ranked champion in the tournament’s history, Mertens’ breakthrough was an impressive one. She did not lose a set as she became just the third qualifier to win the event in its 24-year history.

Mertens upset Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic, who had just helped France win the Mastercard Hopman Cup, in the first round. It was a career-best win, rankings wise, for Mertens at the time.

That record was beaten in the quarterfinals, when Mertens stunned world No.22 and top seed Kiki Bertens.

In the final she overpowered tricky world No.40 Monica Niculescu, losing only four games in a nerveless display.

“I kept calm and I went for it,” Mertens said.

“It’s amazing, a dream come true. I have no words to describe it.”

Becoming the third Belgian player to win the Hobart International title, former champions Dominique Monami and Kim Clijsters were among the first to reach out and congratulate her.

Monami (formerly Van Roost) is now the Belgian Fed Cup captain, while Mertens has a close relationship with Clijsters and trains at the Kim Clijsters Academy in Bree.

“I hope I can be a little bit like her … I still have some years to go,” Mertens said of her idol Clijsters.

The unassuming Mertens learnt a valuable lesson with her title-winning run in Hobart – and with her self-belief rising, she soon hit new heights.

“After winning that eighth match, it made me realise that I actually can do it,” Mertens said.

She reached a second WTA final in Istanbul in April and at Roland Garros upset Australia’s Daria Gavrilova on a run to the third round.

In August she broke into the world’s top 50, and by making the New Haven semifinals arrived at the US Open ranked inside the top 40 for the first time.

A fifth semifinal for the season in Luxembourg in October saw Mertens set a new career-high ranking of No.35. A remarkable result for a player who had started the season with the goal of breaking into the world’s top 100.

“Winning Hobart gave me that top 100 spot, it was the start of a really great year,” Mertens said.

“I’m very happy with my results and also the consistency that I played with.”

Finishing with 54 wins for the season, including three over top 20-ranked opponents, Mertens was nominated for the WTA’s Newcomer of the Year award.

This year Mertens arrives in Hobart as one of the top-ranked players in the draw, a reminder of just how fast her rise has been.

> View the 2018 singles draw

“It’s going to be a new journey,” she noted. “It will be the first time I have to defend a title and a lot of ranking points, but I don’t feel the pressure. I just feel lucky to be here and blessed that I get to play this game.”

She’s excited to be returning to Hobart too, admitting she fell in love with the city’s picturesque views and nature in her first visit last year.

“If you love the tournament already before you start and you feel like (you’re at) home, then you’re going to play better,” she said.

“Winning in Hobart was my first title and I’ll never ever forget that. It’s always going to be a special place for me.”