Belgium’s No
1 Elise Mertens had to leave the Billie Jean Gold Cup final less than 24 hours after arriving in Glasgow with a last-minute sprint at the WTA Finals in Texas.
![Mertens](https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/11/09/18/342a2ccecc0eed5544cbce11ed6b436aY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjY4MTAzMTUz-2.69685338.jpg?quality=75&width=982&height=726&auto=webp)
The WTA’s efforts to find an alternative host for their flagship event in Shenzhen
China, led to the cancellation of the match hours before another flagship event at the Emirates Stadium, thousands of kilometers and multiple time zones.
After winning the doubles final with Russia’s Veronica Kudmetova in Fort Worth on Monday night, Mertens rushed to the airport and took three flights before landing in Glasgow just before 10pm on Tuesday.
Belgium’s first clash with Slovakia started just 12 hours later
With Belgian captain Johan Van Herck feeling unable to pick Mertens – his best player – for a singles, but she and Kers Kirsten Flipkens teamed up to win Tereza Mihalikova 6-0, 6-3.
Mertens
No. 29 in singles and No. 5 in doubles, said: « When I played the finals (in Texas), I started at 5:30 p.m., which was a little longer than expected because I was in the evening There is a flight around 10 o’clock.
« I still do media and everything
It was 8:15pm and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m not going to make it. We’re in a hurry. I barely had a shower. We went to the airport. I was at 8:55pm Got there. They said, ‘We have four minutes to process your luggage’. A bag on the scale. ‘2 minutes. Oh my gosh.’
« (And) my mum
We ran to the door and somehow it worked. Then three flights to Madrid, London and Glasgow. I slept about seven hours. A little nap in between. But it was a journey..
« I feel good
It’s been a long journey, but I’ve made it my mission to play for Belgium. »
Mertens is one of seven players planned for both games
Although Jessica Pegula withdrew from the U.S. team on Monday, and Babora Krečkova retired from the Czech team on Wednesday with a hand injury that severely damaged them. A chance to win another championship.
World No
1 Iga Swiatek has decided she cannot play both, leaving Poland with little chance of qualifying.
The WTA and the International Tennis Federation
Which organizes the Billie Jean King Cup, have pledged to study plans for the next few years.
« I’ll try to be optimistic because I can’t change anything at the moment
Of course, it could be completely different, » Mertens said.
Belgium were beaten 2-1 by Slovakia but managed to progress through Thursday’s win over Australia.
Last year’s runners-up Switzerland beat Italy 3-0 for the first time
With Gil Teichmann winning the three-hour match against Elisabetta Cocciaretto before Belinda Bencic beat Jasmin Paolini, Bencic and Tai The Himan team won the doubles title.