Mertens fights back from a set down to reach Monterrey final

Elise Mertens recovered from a one-sided opening set to beat Nikola Bartunkova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the Monterrey semifinals. The Czech was untouchable early behind seven aces and 76.2% of points won behind her first serve, but she landed only 47.2% of those deliveries and won just 34.0% behind her second, a gap that widened as the match went on. Mertens, steadier throughout with 62.8% first serves in and only two double faults to Bartunkova's six, won 56.2% of her own second-serve points. The Belgian's consistency carried her into the final.