By Aimi G.
Elise Mertens bagged her first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) title in 17 months after dispatching unseeded American Ann Li in straight sets to lift the Singapore Tennis Open trophy on 2 February.
“It’s a really nice title at the beginning of the year – and especially after not getting the title in Hobart three weeks ago,” said the world number 32.
The second-seeded Belgian, who fell short in the Hobart International final last month, was in top form at the Kallang Tennis Hub, landing 75 per cent of her first serves to overpower the American 6-1, 6-4.
The 29-year-old secured three service breaks in the first set, taking it in just 26 minutes.
“I felt very comfortable on this surface and very comfortable in Singapore this week, so I took advantage of that and it gave me a lot of good energy,” she added.
Li, who had not dropped a set en route to the final, struggled with her serve and was unable to match Mertens’ intensity early on.
In the doubles final, second seeds Desirae Krawczyk of the United States and Giuliana Olmos of Mexico took the title after defeating the third-seeded Chinese pair of Wang Xinyu and Zheng Saisai 7-5, 6-0.
PHOTOS: WTA