Mertens out to defend her perfect Hobart record

She’s the only two-time winner of the Hobart International and has never lost a match in Tasmania – and Elise Mertens hopes to keep it that way.

Elise Mertens of Belgium, winner of the Hobart International 2017. Pictured at Cornelian Bay. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

A PERFECT record at the Hobart International was a major factor in Elise Mertens returning to the city to round out her Australian Open preparations.

The world No.17 created history in 2018 when she became the first player to win two Hobart titles, extending her unbeaten run at the Domain Tennis Centre to 13 matches after she came through qualifying a year earlier to salute.

Despite having the option to play in Adelaide – which boasts bigger prize money – the Belgian opted for Tasmania before the first Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne.

“I already have nice memories so hopefully I can create some more,” Mertens told the Mercury after she was defeated in the quarterfinals of the Shenzhen Open.

“Of course it is a big factor, you want to have a good preparation week before the Australian Open and it gives you confidence.

“I have been there now several times but I still have the memory from when I won a qualifying match and then got to the main draw and won the tournament eventually.

“It really was a dream week.”

Mertens faces some stiff opposition this week with a star-studded field boasting the likes of former Grand Slam champions Garbine Muguruza, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Australian hopeful Sam Stosur.

Throw in one of the next emerging talents in Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, who rose from outside the top 150 to 36 in a breakout 2019 season as well as former Hobart champion Alize Cornet and French Fed Cup hero Caroline Garcia, and the 24-year-old will need to be at the top of her game.

“Everybody is playing really high-quality tennis so I think either way it is going to be a tough draw and everyone in the main draw can play,” said Mertens, who was defeated by Rybakina in a tough three setter in Shenzhen.

“Everybody is playing a really high level already in the first week so of course I can adjust some things, but it is good to play in the first week to see what I need to adjust and improve.”

Mertens finished last year inside the top 20 for the second consecutive season, and as she eyes climbing past her career high of No.12 set in November 2018, she knows the key will be constant showings at the majors.

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Helping the cause was a maiden Grand Slam title in the doubles at the US Open, where she partnered with Aryna Sabalenka.

“The top 10 is still pretty far away, it is close but far because there is a pretty big points gap. You want to do well in the Grand Slams and if you do well there you might go up a bit.

“I think just consistency in the bigger tournaments will be important.”

She will play a qualifier in the first round after Saturday’s was done.

Wildcard Stosur has a tough start taking on tournament fifth-seed Russian Veronika Kudermetova, while No.2 seed Muguruza will face China’s Yafan Wang.

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