Mertens makes quick start on ATP Tour as Belgium faces China in Manchester United Cup
federation cup
Mertens makes a quick start in Belgium’s Fed Cup tie against China
Burgess tried to reconcile with Zhang Chengping
January 3, 2026
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Elise Mertens defeated Zhulin in straight sets on Saturday in Sydney.
Author: ATP/WTA Staff
Elise Mertens got Belgium off to a flying start as she defeated China’s Zhu Lin 6-2, 6-2 in Group B on the first day of the Fed Cup in Sydney on Saturday.
Mertens, the highest-ranked player from her home country on the WTA Tour, kicked off her 12th WTA Tour-level season with a victory in one hour and 18 minutes, her fourth in five career meetings with former world No. 31 Zhu.
The 31-year-old from China enjoyed a resurgence in the second half of 2025 after plummeting down the PIF WTA rankings due to an elbow injury. In August, she was ranked No. 493, reached the fourth round at the WTA 1000 event in Montreal, and started 2026 ranked No. 168. But overall, Mertens’ performance was too much for China’s sixth-ranked player to handle.
She broke serve six times to win, winning five of the first six games and going from 1-1 in the second set to win four straight games, although she hit less than 50 percent of her first serves in the second set.
ATP World No. 42 Zizou Bergers will next try to seal victory for Belgium when he takes on Zhang Zhizhen, who like Zhu is a former World No. 31 and is returning from injury.
