3 games running for the Belgian - who gets belittled a lot, but is a serious player now, and her serve is about 10 mph faster than I remember.
Neither player giving any quarter when the other slips even a fraction.
Jo stems the flow, and has at least a TB, 6-5*
Joyce comes down and tells her that she's, "doing a good job," which she is. That's why he gets the big bucks, folks.
40-15* 2 SP
Mertens saves the first with a fantastic cross court winner, and the second from a strong serve.
It can't be overstated how well Mertens is playing to counter Jo.
2-4 at the change
recovered the mini, lost it again, Ace down the middle to get to 4-5*
Mertens to serve it out: A FH UE the first ragged one, 4-6*, Mertens good FH DTL winner.
Jo did very little wrong.
AT 5-2, she was superb.
Got to give all the credit to Elise, she clawed her way in, and played som great stuff, and very match tough points at critical junctures. Best I've ever seen Mertens play.
6-7(4)
Just going for a bit too much, a bit too close to lines, a bad service game, and back level, 6-7(4) 1-1*
Frustrating - just needs to put it all together.
Mertens serving has been a revelation here. Jo trying for too much, too much attack.
Mertens knows she is playing very well, and looks super confident.
And, I have to leave it there.
6-7(4) *1-2
Well this one has certainly flipped 180. *1-4. Mertens has now taken 9 of the last 11 games. Jo is still getting into good positions in games but not able to see them out, not helped by Mertens level increasing but also Jo's movement looks a bit restricted.
Was looking so good at 5-2* and those 2 set points at 15-40.