Elise Mertens (WTA 23) is imposed in the first round of the WTA tennis tournament Prague International. Tuesday on the clay courts of the Czech Republic, the no. 1 Belgian beat the Italian Jasmine Paolini (WTA 95) in three sets, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, in a game scheduled Monday but postponed because of the rain.

The Limburg 24-year-old, who was defying Paolini for the second time after a victory in the Fed Cup in 2018, emerged from a first set tight by converting his fourth opportunity to take the lead. Less efficient service in the 2nd set, Elise Mertens has seen the Italian get back in the game.