SINGAPORE: Elise Mertens clinched her first WTA title in 17 months on Sunday as the second-seeded Belgian beat unseeded Ann Li in straight sets to win the Singapore Tennis Open.

Mertens was beaten by McCartney Kessler in the Hobart International final last month but the 29-year-old was in fine form at Kallang Tennis Centre, landing 75 percent of her first serves to overpower the American 6-1, 6-4.

Li did not drop a set during her run to the final but struggled with her serve early in the match as Mertens took full advantage, earning three service breaks to take the opening set in 26 minutes

The American was broken again in her first service game of the second set but dug deep to break Mertens for the first time in the next game and began to find her groove on her own serve.