World No. 4 Jessica Pegula of the United States was defeated by Belgium`s Elise Mertens, ranked 24th by the WTA, in the third round of the Italian Open in Rome. Mertens secured the win with a score of 7-5, 6-1.
The match lasted 1 hour and 25 minutes. This victory extends Mertens` lead in their head-to-head record to 4 wins against 1 loss.
Match Statistics:
| Pegula | Mertens | |
| Aces | 0 | 4 |
| Double Faults | 3 | 1 |
| Breaks Converted | 1 | 4 |
| Total Points Won | 50 | 70 |
This win is significant as it is Mertens` first victory over a player ranked in the Top 10 since Roland Garros in 2023. It also puts an end to her streak of 14 consecutive losses against Top 10 opponents.
Elise Mertens will face Russia`s Diana Shnaider in the next round.
