Kessler surprises Mertens and triumphs in Hobart

McCartney Kessler wins the second title of her career. At the age of 25, the American put in a faultless performance in Hobart.

She rounded off her perfect week with victory over number 2 seed Elise Mertens in a one-sided third set (6-4, 3-6, 6-0).

Ranked 67th in the world at the start of the week, Kessler, who had eliminated the tournament's main headliner Dayana Yastremska in the quarter-finals, will achieve the highest WTA ranking of her career at 46th, just before the Australian Open.

In August 2024, Kessler triumphed in Cleveland on home soil just days before the US Open. She is now preparing for the first Grand Slam of the season in the best possible way, and will face Zhang Shuai in her Melbourne opener.

Already an unfortunate finalist last year, when she lost to Emma Navarro, Mertens loses for the second consecutive time in the final of the tournament held in Tasmania.

She will therefore have to wait a little longer before lifting the trophy for the third time after winning in 2017 and 2018. The Belgian will play Golubic in her first round at the Australian Open.