Mertens Stakes Belgium to 2-0 BJK Cup Lead over USA as Kessler Retires

By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, April 10, 2026
Photo credit: United Cup Facebook

Belgium is on the brink of advancing to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals after bringing a United States squad to its knees.

Elise Mertens was level with McCartney Kessler 7-6(3), 2-6, 3-3 when the 26-year-old American retired from their Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier with a painful back injury.

Kessler had come back to take a 3-2 lead in the deciding set of today’s second singles match on the red clay of the Coretec Dome in Ostend, Belgium today.

That retirement lifted Belgium to a 2-0 lead over the United States in the best-of-five-match Qualifier. Host Belgium needs one more match win to clinch its trip to the BJK Cup Finals.

Serving at 3-all, 15-Love, Kessler strained her back striking a double fault. A clearly hobbled Kessler came up lame, paced slowly to her court-side seat and looked pained.

Leaving the court for a medical time-out, an emotional Kessler returned and immediately retired due to that apparent back injury.

“It’s a pity that she had to retire, we were playing such a tight match, she was playing so well,” Mertens told the crowd in her on-court interview. “Hopefully she’ll be back very soon.

“I kept on fighting, especially with the Belgian crowd, it gave me a lot of energy today, you guys pulled me through the match, really.”

World No. 48 Kessler had won both of her prior meetings vs. Mertens prior to today’s retirement.

Over the course of today and tomorrow, 14 nations will play in seven best-of-five-match home-and-away ties to determine who books a spot in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China in September.

Hanne Vandewinkel opened today’s tie toppling world No. 16 Iva Jovic 7-6(3), 6-3 to stake Belgium to a 1-0 lead.

Vandewinkel saved all six break points she faced and converted the lone break of the match in the second set defeating the 18-year-old Jovic in two hours, 14 minutes.

The win comes two years after Vandewinkel made her Billie Jean King Cup debut in the United States. She recalled that experience squeezing out a tense victory today.

“Yeah, for me, playing in the USA last time was my first Billie Jean King Cup, so I think a lot has changed since then,” Vandewinkel said. “It was an unbelievable experience to play for the first time. I played two matches, which gave me a lot of experience playing top players, so I think the style is different.

“We’re playing at home, we have Elise here, so I think it will also make a big difference. We’re all ready to play, everyone is in great shape. So, yeah, I think we just have to go for it and I think we’ll have our chances.”

Mertens broke at love to start the final set against Kessler and consolidated the break for a 2-0 lead.

Digging deep, Kessler reeled off three games in a row for a 3-2 third-set lead. One game later, Kessler retired.

Americans Caty McNally and Nicole Melichar-Martinez are tabbed for tomorrow’s opening doubles match vs. Greet Minnen and Magali Kempen. McNally won the doubles title at the WTA 500 in Charleston, S.C., last week, and Melichar-Martinez reached the Indian Wells semifinals this year.

U.S. Captain Lindsay Davenport and Belgian Captain Wim Fissette may make substitutions to their doubles nominations one hour prior to match time.

“It’s one of the greatest honors to represent your country, but especially in this sport where for about 49 weeks of the year it’s an individual sport, and there’s only a couple opportunities to really be on a team,” Captain Davenport said. “I think that these ladies up here relish that, the opportunity to work together, to have group dinners, group practices, group events, and to have people that are actively behind you, wanting you to do well, wanting you have a good practice, cheering you on.

“We’ve had a great week here so far. This has always been one of my favorite events. I first played it at 17, and [I’m] still involved now at my old age, so I’ve seen a lot of different decades of it and [I’m] still so honored to be around this great event every year.”

Given Kessler’s injury, if the USA can push the tie to a fifth and decisive singles match, Hailey Baptiste or McNally could play.

“I got called up like a week ago from Lindsay. I’m super excited to be able to join
the team with these girls,” McNally said after the draw. “Everyone is such great competitors, and I’m really looking forward to the week ahead.

“I know that we’re going to fight every single point. We’re just playing for something bigger than ourselves this week, which is always really cool. Just playing an individual sport like tennis, we’re always kind of playing for ourselves, but this week is for our country, so I’m really excited.”

Belgium 2, United States 0
Saturday Schedule (Starting at 8 a.m. ET)

Caty McNally/Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) v. Greet Minnen/Magali Kempen (BEL)

Iva Jovic (USA) v. Elise Mertens (BEL)

McCartney Kessler (USA) v. Hanne Vandewinkel (BEL)