Bergs fights past Mensik, Mertens sends Belgium to United Cup SFs | ATP tour | Tennis

United Cup

Bergs fights past Mensik, Mertens sends Belgium to United Cup SFs

The Belgians will next play against Switzerland
January 8, 2026

Belgium reached the semi-finals of the United Cup for the first time on Thursday after Zizou Bergs and Elise Mertens recorded singles victories over their Czech opponents to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Belgium will face Switzerland in the semifinals, while the United States will meet the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal between Australia and Poland.

After scoring the biggest win of his career against Felix Auger-Aliassime in group play, Bergs defeated Jakub Mensik 6-2, 7-6(4). The Belgian came into the event 2-16 against Top-20 opponents but has now won two in a row after beating Mensik in one hour and 40 minutes.

The 26-year-old was unable to finish the match with two chances, but eventually managed to cross the finish line.

“First of all, I didn’t even know I was 5-4 ahead, but then I got broken and I was 5-5,” Bergs said. “And then I go back and you just want to finish. You’re so close, you’re playing big points. I got tight, I’m going back, I’m playing defense. So it was a really big battle in the end. I’m so happy for myself and the team.”

Towards the end of the match, Bergs started to play more conservatively as the pressure to claim victory increased. Suddenly he pulled away the balls he had been hitting with authority, allowing the Czech to impose his own will.

Mensik took advantage of a ball that hit the net and barely bounced over, earning his first service break of the match and staying alive. He then claimed another break at 5-6 with a big backhand down the line, but couldn’t force a decider.

Mertens faced a tough test against two-time major singles champion Barbora Krejcikova. But after trading early breaks in the third, both players held serve until Mertens struck in the 11th game, holding on to seal a 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 victory in two hours and 33 minutes.

“I had to adjust my game in the second set,” Mertens said in an on-court interview. “I had to play a bit more aggressively and I’m happy that I was able to do that. Being 1-0 up, I was able to play freely thanks to Zizou, and we are so happy to be in the semi-finals.”

Mertens and Krejcikova, both former WTA world No. 1 doubles players, played a tight opening set that saw the Czech break for the first time in the 11th game before serving out the set 7-5. The 30-year-old Belgian, ranked 19, responded strongly in the second set, breaking twice to claim the score at 6-1 and force a deciding set.

Mertens’ serve proved decisive: she fired twelve aces and made only three double faults, while Krejcikova finished with six aces and ten double faults. Mertens converted 80 percent of her breakpoint chances, compared to 20 percent for the Czech.