Mertens edges Udvardy in three sets in Monterrey last 16

Elise Mertens survived a three-set test against Panna Udvardy to reach the Monterrey quarterfinals, winning 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in the Round of 16. The Belgian raced through the opener and, after conceding the second set, regrouped to control the decider. Her first serve was the difference: 62 percent in and 77.6 percent of those points won, backed by seven aces, though six double faults kept the match from being simple. Udvardy landed only 58.3 percent of first serves and won just 36.7 percent behind her second, a gap Mertens exploited on the hard courts to advance.