McCartney Kessler edged past number 2 seed Elise Mertens 6-4 3-6 6-0 after 2 hours and 3 minutes in their first head-to-head match to claim the second title of her career at the Hobart International in her debut at this tournament.
Kessler played collegiate tennis at the University of Florida. The US player made her Grand Slam main draw debut as the winner of the USTA’s wild card into the Australian Open. She made her top 100 debut and claimed her first ATP Tour level title at the WTA 250 tournament in Cleveland.
Mertens won two consecutive titles in Hobart in 2017 and 2018 and finished runner-up to US player Emma Navarro last year.
Kessler broke in the first game on her third break point to take a 2-0 lead. The US player converted her fourth break point in the seventh games to open up a 5-2 lead. Mertens pulled one break back in the eighth game for 3-5. Kessler served out the first set with a hold at love. Kessler fired 15 winners in the first set, including an ace on set point. Mertens hit only two winners in first set.
Mertens saved two break points to hold serve in a 11-minute eight-deuce first game of the second set. The Belgian player broke serve with a hold at 15 to take a 2-0 lead. Kessler broke straight back in the third game and held serve at 30 to draw level to 2-2. Mertens broke in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. Kessler saved two set points to hold serve at deuce. Mertens served out on her third set point. Kessler broke three times to win the third set 6-0.
Kessler will face China’s 2016 Australian Open quarter finalist Zhang Shuai. Mertens will take on Swiss qualifier Viktorija Golubic.
