Mertens eases past Collins at Hobart International

Ethan James | January 8, 2024

Top seed Elise Mertens has breezed past former Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins to make the second round of the Hobart International. 

World No.29 Mertens, who won the tournament in 2017 and 2018, was too consistent in the 6-2 6-3 victory on Monday afternoon. 

She found herself down a break early in the second set before picking up four games in a row against a visibly frustrated Collins.

Collins, ranked No.54 in the world, had a stunning run to the final at Melbourne Park in 2022. 

Mertens was steamrolled 6-1 6-0 last week in the round of 16 of the Brisbane International by world No.3 Elena Rybakina, who went on to win the tournament. 

“(Collins is) definitely a tough opponent in the first round. She can definitely strike the ball very hard,” Mertens said. 

“The weather was in my advantage, a little bit more wind.” 

The Belgian next faces Slovakia’s Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova, who toppled fellow qualifier Maria Camila Osorio Serrano 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 to earn a first-round win. 

There are two Australians in the singles draw, including Daria Saville, who is on the comeback trail from a serious knee injury. 

Saville, who had been granted a wildcard for next week’s Australian Open, will meet Russian world No.46 Anna Blinkova on Monday night.

Fellow Australian and wildcard Olivia Gadecki plays fourth seed Xinyu Wang on Tuesday.