Daria Saville (ex-Gavrilova), 28, surprised world number 10, Tunisian Ons Jabeur, 27, in the second round on Saturday winning in three sets 7-5, 6-7 (0/7), 6 -4 after 2 hours and 39 minutes of play. Earlier in the program, exempted from the first round, Elise Mertens (N.20), 23rd in the world, had not missed her entry into the tournament by dismissing in two sets – 6-2, 6-1 – and 68 minutes of play the Ukrainian Marta Kostuyk, 19 years old and 54th in the world, who fell the day before Maryna Zanevska (WTA 68).
Elise Mertens, 26, and Daria Saville have met four times on the circuit and the Belgian number 1 leads 3-1, but their last duels date back to 2018. Elise Mertens won three Grand Slams, at Roland Garros (in 2017 and 2018) and at the Australian Open (2018). Daria Saville won in 2017 during their first confrontation in Rabat, Morocco. Daria Gavrilova changed her nationality to Australian in 2015 and married Australian tennis player Luke Saville in December 2018. Her highest ranking is a world No. 20 in August 2017. (
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