Navarro defeats Mertens in Hobart to claim first WTA title

Rising American Emma Navarro won her first Hologic WTA Tour title on Saturday, defeating two-time champion Elise Mertens 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.

In the first Hobart final between the top two seeds since 1998, No.2 seed Navarro defeated No.1 seed Mertens in their first career matchup. Navarro needed 2 hours and 48 minutes to win the first WTA singles final of her young career.

Navarro reaches a new high in what has already been a remarkable rise over the last 12 months. The American was ranked No.149 at this time last year, but has since risen to No.31, her career high.

Navarro, 22, reached the Auckland semifinals last week before winning her first final and title this week in Tasmania's capital. She is 8-1 this season and will compete in the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of 2024.

Navarro dominated the first set and led by a break three times in the second. Mertens, on the other hand, broke back immediately each time and saved six break points in a tenacious hold to win 5–4.

Mertens used the momentum from that game to break Navarro and tie the match at one set each.

Navarro also broke Mertens twice in the opening stages of the third set, but the Belgian remained within touching distance until 5-5.

However, Navarro took the lead for good with a rally forehand to break for 6-5, and she converted her second match point in the next game with a forehand winner down the line.

Navarro will make her Australian Open main-draw debut next week, and she is seeded 27th. She will face Wang Xiyu of China in the first round in Melbourne.

Mertens is seeded No. 25 for the upcoming major, where she will face Egypt's Mayar Sherif in the first round.

SportsLigue