Mertens Stuns Świątek as Zheng Completes Beijing Semifinal Lineup

Elise Mertens delivered the sharpest performance of her Beijing run Friday, beating #8 Iga Świątek 7-6(0), 6-3 in one hour and 50 minutes to reach the China Open semifinals for the first time. The #13 seed did not face a break point, won 33 of 38 first-serve points and finished with 24 winners against 11 unforced errors. After an opening set without a break, Mertens swept the tiebreak 7-0 — the first player to win a WTA-level tiebreak to love against Świątek.

The second set turned when Mertens converted for a 3-1 lead, then backed it up with a love hold. Świątek made one last push at 0-30 in the final game, but Mertens won four straight points to close the match. The Belgian’s control was especially striking against an opponent who usually forces returners into constant pressure: she became only the second player since 2025 to go through a non-Grand Slam, non-team-event, non-Olympic main-draw match against Świątek without facing a break point.