Aug 29 (Reuters) - Belgian second ⁠seed Elise Mertens recovered from a set down ⁠to beat Czech Nikola Bartunkova 1-6 6-4 6-2 at ‌the Monterrey Open on Friday, setting up a final showdown with Diane Parry in the WTA 500 hardcourt tune-up event ahead of the ​U.S. Open.

Frenchwoman Parry, 23, earlier upset American ⁠fifth seed Ann Li ⁠7-6(7) 6-4 in two hours and three minutes in the ⁠first ‌semi-final to book her place in the final.

In the second semi-final, Bartunkova made a blistering start, breaking ⁠Mertens in the opening game before racing ​to a 4-1 ‌lead. The 20-year-old secured a second break and never ⁠allowed Mertens ​a route back, closing out the set 6-1 after breaking serve for a third time in the final game.

After being outplayed ⁠in the opening set, Mertens battled ​back in the second from a 3-0 deficit. The 30-year-old turned the tide by breaking in three consecutive return games and ⁠winning six of the final seven games to take the set 6-4 and draw level.

Mertens carried that momentum into the decider, securing an early break for a 2-1 lead. ​She tightened her grip on the ⁠contest with another break in a marathon seventh game before ​serving out the set 6-2 to ‌complete the comeback victory.

The U.S. Open ​women's singles main draw begins on Sunday.

(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Stephen Coates)