Elise Mertens races past American Li to win Singapore Open title

Elise Mertens put in a commanding performance to overpower Ann Li and win the Singapore Open, beating the American 6-1, 6-4 in the final at the Kallang Tennis Hub.

It is the current world No 32’s ninth WTA title, and her first since winning the Jasmin Open in Monastir in October 2023.

Li was playing in her fourth WTA final and seeking a second title, having won her first in Tenerife in 2021. But the Belgian had too much quality for the younger American today, and her experience shone through in a confident, clinical display.

Li’s serve was under constant threat, not helped by a second-serve win percentage of just 38%, as Mertens broke her opponent five times in total.

Li, on the other hand, only managed a single break of serve as the Belgian wrapped up an impressive title run in comfortable fashion.

In the previous rounds of the Singapore Open 2025, Mertens, ranked No 32, beat American Taylor Townsend (6-1, 6-0), German Tatjana Maria (6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-1), Colombian Camila Osorio, the No 6 seed (6-4, 6-2) and Chinese Xinyu Wang, the No 4 seed (6-3, 6-4).

Li, ranked No 85, beat Australian Daria Saville (6-3, 6-1), Russian lucky loser Maria Timofeeva (6-3, 6-2), Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell (7-6 (2), 7-6 (4)) and Russian Anna Kalinskaya, the top seed (7-6 (2), 1-0 ret.) earlier in the tournament.

You might also like this

Jasmin Open: Mertens races past Paolini in final to win the trophy

tennis majors

In-form Auger-Aliassime dispatches De Jong to reach Montpellier Open final

tennis majors