Mertens retires from match in Istanbul due to leg injury

ISTANBUL (AP) — Top-seeded Elise Mertens has retired from her opening match at the clay-court Istanbul Championship because of a leg injury. The 26-year-old Belgian was losing 7-5, 4-1 to Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson when she retired with pain in her right leg. Mertens was runner-up to Sorana Cirstea last year. Croatian player Petra Martic upset fourth-seeded Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5).