Elise Mertens (WTA 17) was eliminated on Tuesday in the first round of the WTA grass tournament in Birmingham, England, doped with $ 235,238.
The top seed went down after a marathon match against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic (WTA 72): 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (5/7) and 7-6 (7/4). The match lasted 3 hours and 9 minutes.
For a place in the quarterfinals, Tomljanovic will play against the American Coco Vandeweghe (WTA 203), who eliminated the Czech Kristyna Pliskova (WTA 92) 6-4 and 7-6 (7/1).
Mertens is the only Belgian on the main draw in Birmingham. She also competes in doubles, together with Taiwanese Su-Wei Hsieh.
The Belgian number 1 was eliminated a week and a half ago at Roland Garros in the third round by the Greek Maria Sakkari: 7-5, 6-7 (2/7) and 6-2.
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