Japan Open: Birrell into last eight as Mertens retires in third set

Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell moved into the quarter-finals of the Osaka Open when Belgian Elise Mertens, the No 3 seed, retired at the Utsubo Tennis Center in Osaka on Thursday.

Mertens looked in a good position to win the match as she led 6-3, 3-1 before Birrell mounted a comeback. The Australian broke back and then saved seven more break points on her serve before breaking Mertens in the 12th game on her fourth set point to take the match into a decider.

Birrell, ranked No 150 in the world, was leading 3-6, 7-5, 4-1 when Mertens, ranked No 27, was forced to retire from the match after 2 hours and 52 minutes.

The Australian will face the winner of the match between Japanese wildcard Sara Saito and Armenian Elina Avanesyan, the No 5 seed, next.

In the previous round of the tournament, Birrell won against Chinese Saisai Zheng (6-2, 6-3).

Mertens had defeated Japanese wildcard Mai Hontama (6-1, 6-1) earlier in the week.

Osaka WTA 250, other second-round matches (Utsubo Tennis Center, hard, USD 267,080):

• Diane Parry (7) beat Greet Minnen: 6-4, 6-2
• Ana Bogdan (Q) beat Marie Bouzkova (4): 6-0, 7-6 (5)
• Aoi Ito (Q) beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto (8): 6-4, 6-3
• Clara Tauson beat Harriet Dart: 6-3, 6-2
• Suzan Lamens (Q) beat Lucia Bronzetti: 6-3, 6-4
• Eva Lys (LL) beat McCartney Kessler: 7-6 (7), 3-6, 7-5
• Sara Saito vs. Elina Avanesyan

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