Elise Mertens got her United Cup campaign off to an absolute flyer and stunned her rival in the opening game on Saturday morning (AEDT).
The world No.20 started Belgium’s clash with China in style when she broke Lin Zhu’s serve early in the first set after an epic rally.
Zhu looked all-but certain to claim the point, but after a 22-shot rally it was Mertens who clinched it with a spectacular looping backhand over her opponent’s head.
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Elise Mertens plays a brilliant shot to win a game against Lin Zhu. Nine
The crowd in Sydney erupted – as did Mertens’ teammates – as she nonchalantly celebrated the brilliant moment.
“Why not start with a lungbuster,” Sam Smith said on commentary for Nine.
“If you didn’t know anything about Elise Mertens, that last point would have told you everything you need to know.”
The Aussie tennis summer kicks off with the 2026 United Cup from Friday, January 2. Watch it live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Mertens took out the first set with relative ease and it was a similar story in the second set, rolling past Zhu for a 6-2, 6-1 win to give Belgium the early lead.
“It’s an amazing atmosphere and I’m very happy to be back and start on a good note,” she told Nine’s Mark Petchey post-match.
“I just turned 30 – I think I can improve every day, which I try to do.”
Zizou Bergs will face Zhizhen Zhang in the men’s leg of the three-match tie, before the mixed doubles clash later on Saturday afternoon.
Australia will play Norway in the Saturday night fixtures when Alex de Minaur and Casper Ruud go head-to-head in an early blockbuster.