In a stunning display of teamwork and skill, Belgium triumphed over Canada with a decisive 3-0 victory in Sydney, advancing them to the quarter-finals of the United Cup. The outcome came on Tuesday, where both Zizou Bergs and Elise Mertens secured crucial singles wins before joining forces in mixed doubles to complete the sweep.
Elise Mertens, reflecting on the match, expressed her excitement, stating, “I’m absolutely pumped… I’m very happy with the point for Belgium. Also, well played to my opponent. She’s up and coming, and really young — she’s more than 10 years younger than me!” This sentiment underscored the competitive spirit of the match, with Mertens showcasing her vast experience against Canada’s promising talent, Victoria Mboko.
The day started with a remarkable performance from Zizou Bergs, who stunned World No. 5 Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. This victory marked a significant milestone for Bergs, as it was his second career win against a top-10 player, having previously defeated Andrey Rublev. “I actually forgot this was my second Top-10 win, so that’s really huge. I just looked at it as a match,” Bergs remarked after his victory.
In the following singles match, Elise Mertens faced off against 19-year-old Mboko, who had already made a name for herself on the WTA Tour. Mertens’ experience proved to be pivotal as she overcame a second-set challenge to win, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. The battle lasted over two hours, and Mertens emphasized her satisfaction with her performance, particularly in how she started the third set, and credited her team’s support for her success.
The mixed doubles match concluded the day on a high note for Belgium, with Mertens and Bergs overcoming the Canadian duo of Cleeve Harper and Mboko, winning the match super tiebreaker 10-5 after splitting the first two sets. This victory not only secured Belgium’s top position in Group B but also guaranteed their place in the quarter-finals.
With this phenomenal performance, Belgium joined the select ranks of teams progressing to the next round alongside the USA, Greece, Switzerland, and Argentina. As the tournament heats up, all eyes will be on Belgium to see who they will face when the quarter-finals commence.
