Mertens battles back to reach Monterrey Open final

Mertens staged a comeback victory on Friday at the Monterrey Open, recovering from a set down to beat Bartunkova 1-6 6-4 6-2 in their semifinal clash. The Belgian, seeded second in the tournament, found her rhythm after dropping the opening set, winning 10 of the next 12 games to secure her spot in the final.

The 28-year-old's resurgence in the second set proved decisive. After falling behind, Mertens levelled the match and then dominated the third set to close out the encounter in straight sets following the opener.

Mertens will face Parry in Saturday's championship match at the hardcourt event in Mexico. The final represents a significant preparation opportunity for both players ahead of the U.S. Open, which begins next week. Parry advanced to the final after her own semifinal victory earlier in the week.

The Monterrey Open, a WTA 500 event, has served as a notable tune-up tournament for players preparing for the year's final Grand Slam championship. Mertens will be seeking to claim the title and build momentum heading into New York.