Google News Elise Mertens: I pack suitcases with my old clothes and send them to Africa
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 4052
Belgian tennis star Elise Mertens has revealed she often donates her tennis clothes she no longer wears to those who aren't able to afford to buy themselves clothes. Mertens, ranked at No. 16 in the world, packs her old clothes and shoes to suitcases and sends them to the African countries.
"Actually I give them to people who don't have the advantage of buying clothes. I also sent a lot of suitcases to Africa, just to... Yeah, a lot of shoes, a lot of clothes. I think I gave five boxes a few months ago. So yeah, I just try to help a little bit where I can," Mertens said when about what she does with the tennis clothes she no longer wears, as revealed by Ravi Ubha.
Mertens, a former world No. 12, exited the US Open in the round-of-16 on Sunday. Mertens stood no chance against Aryna Sabalenka as the second seed saw off the Belgian 6-4 6-1.
Mertens couldn't pull off an upset
Mertens recovered from an early break down but dropped her serve in the 10th game when serving to stay in the first set.
After losing the first set on a disappointing way, Mertens' game fell apart as Sabalenka claimed two breaks and lost no service games to book a straight-set win. Sabalenka, ranked at No. 2 in the world, has been playing extremely well at this year's US Open and she is now the top favorite to win it all after Ashleigh Barty's shock exit.
Sabalenka reveals she is pushing herself hard in practices so she can be as ready as possible for tough encounters. “Prepare myself for long rallies. Moving a lot, hitting a lot of balls, trying to be ready for these points, for big points, b/c every player is trying to move me.
They know that they have to move me, and only like this is the way they can beat me," Sabalenka said, per WTA Insider.