Mertens fell to the court and Sabalenka looked to the sky in disbelief before they embraced.
World number one Ash Barty delighted the Memorial Drive crowd by breezing through to the Adelaide International semi-finals with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 victory over Sofia Kenin on Friday.
Serena Williams eased her way into the fourth round of the Australian open on Saturday with a 6-1, 6-4 win over China's Peng Shuai. She will meet Victoria Azarenka, who knocked out former champion Amelie Mauresmo.
Italian Camila Giorgi has now beaten the Australian Open champion in each of their three hardcourt meetings.
She remained philosophical in defeat, however, saying that her expectations coming into the tournament had not been high.
Images from the Australian Open matches played in Melbourne on Tuesday.
IMAGES from Day 1 of all the action from the Wimbledon Championships played at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, on Monday.
Images from Day 4 of the 2021 French Open in Paris on Wednesday.
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic blasted their way into the second round of the US Open on Tuesday with ruthless efficiency, crushing their hapless opponents in straight sets on an action-packed second day at Flushing Meadows.
Serena has remained one title behind Margaret Court's all-time record since bagging her 23rd Grand Slam singles trophy
Raducanu stormed into the third round of the Cincinnati Open
Sets up Venus tie on return after COVID-19 hiatus at the Top Seed Open.
IMAGES from Australian Open matches played at Melbourne Park on Friday
Persistent drizzle and a chill wind sweeping the almost-empty Roland Garros grounds.
IMAGES from Day 8 of the matches played at the US Open at Flushing Meadows on Monday
The US Open women's final between Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez attracted a bigger audience on ESPN than the men's clash featuring calendar year Grand Slam-chasing Novak Djokovic and Russia's Daniil Medvedev.
Images from the Australian Open matches played in Melbourne on Saturday.
With only two weeks to go for the Australian Open, tennis stars Roger Federer, Victoria Azarenka, Radek Stepanek and Garbine Muguruza were seen in a light-spirited mood in Brisbane. As part of Nickelodeon Kids Day, the tennis stars led by 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer posed for pictures with cartoon characters.
The positive cases were recorded after the charter flight from Los Angeles landed in Melbourne for the tennis Grand Slam, according to online posts from players.
Rafael Nadal steamrolled compatriot Tommy Robredo 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 to move into the semi-finals of the US Open at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday.
hampion Rafael Nadal and top-ranked Novak Djokovic turned in impressive displays to reach the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals on Thursday. Nadal, chasing a record-extending 12th Monte Carlo title, broke Grigor Dimitrov's serve on four occasions to defeat the Bulgarian 6-4 6-1.
Four-times Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka fired off 18 aces as the Japanese former world number beat Swiss Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday to reach her first Miami Open final.
In a bizarre coincidence, top seed Victoria Azarenka and seventh-seeded Australian Samantha Stosur withdrew from their quarter-final matches at the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday due to leg injuries.
A summary of Wednesday's action at the US Open.
As she stepped out to play the US Open final on Saturday, Naomi Osaka wore a mask with the name Tamir Rice emblazoned on it.
Third seed Maria Sharapova was dumped out of the Australian Open on Monday with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 fourth round loss to Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova on Rod Laver Arena.
Fritz delivers as US win inaugural United Cup crown
Poland's Iga Swiatek will take over the world number one ranking in style after keeping her remarkable winning run intact with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Japan's Naomi Osaka in the Miami Open final on Saturday.
Images from Day 8 of the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Sunday
All eyes are on Victoria Azarenka as she battles it out in the French Open as the women's World No. 1 player and reigning Australian Open champion.
Medvedev suffered a jarring early exit from the Canadian Masters last week but overcame some initial problems in a tricky tie against Shapovalov to edge both sets and book a meeting with American Fritz.
Supermodel Heidi Klum doesn't shy away from showing her emotions. The 40-year-old model was at her sporting best at the US Open tennis tournament in New York on Monday.
Serena was scheduled to face Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova.
Djokovic continues to lead ATP Rankings
A round-up of all tennis action on Saturday.
Murray, who is attempting to return to the top of the tennis world after undergoing hip surgery in January, was out of sorts in the first set of the rain-delayed match, losing three service games behind some uncharacteristically soft second serves.
A summary of Thursday's play at the French Open.
IMAGES from the matches played on Day 3 of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Wednesday
Caroline Wozniacki became the biggest name to fall at the BNP Paribas Open.
