ATP Tour

Bergs battles past Mensik, Mertens sends Belgium to United Cup SFs

Belgium advanced to the United Cup semi-finals for the first time on Thursday after Zizou Bergs and Elise Mertens recorded singles victories over their Czech opponents to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Belgium will face Switzerland in the semi-finals, while the United States will meet the winner of the Friday quarter-final between Australia and Poland.

After earning the biggest win of his career against Felix Auger-Aliassime in group play, Bergs beat Jakub Mensik 6-2, 7-6(4). The Belgian entered the event with a 2-16 mark against Top-20 opponents, but has now won two in a row after defeating Mensik in one hour and 40 minutes.

The 26-year-old was unable to serve out the match with two opportunities to do so, but was ultimately able to cross the finish line.

“First of all, I didn’t even know I was 5-4 up and then I got broken and I was 5-5,” Bergs said. “And then I break back and you just want to finish, you’re so close, you’re playing big points. I got tight, I go backwards, I play defensive. so it was a very big struggle in the end. I’m so happy for myself and the team.”

Towards the end of the match, Bergs began playing more conservatively as the pressure to claim victory mounted. Suddenly balls he had been striking with authority, he was pulling off of, allowing the Czech to impose his own will.

Mensik benefitted from a ball that hit the net and barely bounced over to earn his first service break of the match and remain alive. He then claimed another break at 5-6 with a big backhand up the line, but was unable to force a decider.

Mertens faced a tough test against two-time major singles champion Barbora Krejcikova. But after exchanging early breaks in the third, both players held serve until Mertens struck in the 11th game and held to close out a 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 victory in two hours, 33 minutes.

“I had to adjust my game in the second set,” Mertens said in an on-court interview. “I needed to play a little more aggressively, and I’m happy I was able to do that. Being up 1-0, I could play freely because of Zizou, and we’re so happy to be in the semi-finals.”

Mertens and Krejcikova, both former WTA World No. 1 doubles players, played a tight opening set in which the Czech broke serve for the first time in the 11th game before serving out the set 7-5. The 30-year-old Belgian, ranked No. 19, responded strongly in the second set, breaking twice to claim it 6-1 and force a deciding set.

Mertens’ serve proved decisive — she fired 12 aces and committed just three double faults, while Krejcikova finished with six aces and 10 double faults. Mertens converted 80 per cent of her break-point opportunities compared with 20 per cent for the Czech.