After Jessica Pegula‘s recovery from a bout of food poisoning she experienced upon arriving in Paris, which was presumably caused by consuming poorly prepared escargots or salmon for dinner, the American was served a second portion of uncomfortable experiences as Elise Mertens dominated her 6-1 6-3 the third round of Roland Garros.
The 28th-seeded Mertens showcased her dominance right from the start of the match, swiftly taking control and winning the first set. Carrying her momentum into the second set, the Belgian secured an early break, further solidifying her advantage.
The third-seeded Pegula found herself in a crucial position with an opportunity to shift the momentum as she had numerous break points while trailing 4-3. However, despite her efforts, the American couldn’t capitalize on those chances, and ultimately, the tide did not turn in her favor.
Whether Pegula was drained from the food poisoning, or Mertens was simply a better player this Friday, it is hard to tell, but the fact is that the Belgian now leads 3-0 in their head-to-head stats.
