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Elise Mertens reacts after beating ‘annoyed’ Iga Swiatek to reach the semi-finals in Beijing

Elise Mertens delivered a stunning upset in Beijing, defeating top-seeded Iga Świątek in straight sets (7-6, 6-3) to advance to the semifinals of the China Open. The Belgian’s victory marks her first WTA 1000 semifinal appearance since 2021 and ends Świątek’s bid for a second title of the season.

Mertens credited her consistency and mental resilience for overcoming the pressure, particularly in the tight first-set tiebreak and during nerve-wracking service games. She also acknowledged the supportive crowd, many of whom had rallied behind Świątek, while joking about the shift in their cheers ahead of her semifinal match against fellow Belgian Qinwen Zheng.

The loss further complicates Świątek’s chances of qualifying for the year-end WTA Finals, where she has secured a spot every year since 2019. Mertens, now aiming for a final appearance, will face Zheng in the last four, with the winner set to meet either Mirra Andreeva or Nikola Bartůňková in the championship match.

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