1. Personal life
Elise Mertens' personal life is characterized by her early introduction to tennis through her family and her focused development in the sport.
1.1. Early life and family
Elise Mertens was born in Leuven, Belgium, on November 17, 1995. She is the second daughter of Liliane Barbe, a teacher, and Guido Mertens, who crafts furniture for churches. Growing up, she was home-schooled and developed a strong interest in languages, becoming proficient in French, English, and Flemish Dutch. Her older sister, Lauren, who is now an airline pilot, introduced a four-year-old Elise to tennis, sparking her early passion for the sport. Mertens currently resides in Hamont-Achel, Belgium. She stands 5.9 ft (1.79 m) (5 ft 10 in) tall and weighs 148 lb (67 kg) (148 lb). Her coaches are Christopher Heyman and Alexander Kneepkens.
1.2. Introduction to tennis and influences
Mertens began her tennis journey at a young age, inspired by the success of Belgian tennis legends Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters. She admired their dominance in the sport and aspired to follow in their footsteps. In 2015, Mertens joined the renowned Kim Clijsters Academy, where she trained intensively to hone her skills. She continued her training at the academy until its closure in 2022, a period that significantly contributed to her development as a professional player.
2. Career
Mertens' professional career began in 2013, marked by steady progress in both singles and doubles, culminating in significant Grand Slam and WTA Tour victories.
2.1. Early career and WTA Tour debut
Elise Mertens turned professional in 2013. In her junior career, she was a doubles finalist at the 2014 ITF New Delhi tournament, partnering with Marina Melnikova. Her debut in a WTA Tour main draw came in 2015 at the 2015 Copa Colsanitas in the doubles event, where she partnered with Nastja Kolar. The following year, in 2016, she secured her first WTA doubles title at the Auckland Open, playing alongside fellow Belgian An-Sophie Mestach. This marked the beginning of her journey on the professional circuit.
2.2. Singles career
Mertens made her breakthrough in singles in 2017, winning her first WTA Tour singles title at the 2017 Hobart International, defeating Monica Niculescu in the final. This victory propelled her into the WTA top 100 for the first time. In 2018, she successfully defended her Hobart title, becoming the first woman to win back-to-back championships there. Her strong start continued at the 2018 Australian Open, where she made a remarkable run to her first Grand Slam semifinal, defeating top-five player Elina Svitolina before falling to Caroline Wozniacki. This achievement made her the third Belgian woman to reach the semifinals at the Australian Open, joining Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters.
Following her success in Australia, Mertens continued to build momentum, winning two more singles titles in 2018 at the Lugano Open and the Morocco Open. She reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 12 in November 2018. In 2019, she claimed her first Premier-level title at the Qatar Ladies Open, defeating notable players like Kiki Bertens, Angelique Kerber, and Simona Halep en route to the championship.
Mertens maintained consistent performance in 2020, reaching two singles finals at the 2020 Prague Open and the Linz Open, and making it to the quarterfinals of the US Open for the second consecutive year. In 2021, she won her sixth career singles title at the Gippsland Trophy in Melbourne. After a period of mixed results, Mertens ended 2022 strongly by winning her seventh WTA Tour singles title at the Jasmin Open in Monastir, Tunisia, her first singles title in nearly 14 months. She successfully defended her Jasmin Open title in 2023, marking her eighth singles championship and returning to the top 30 in the rankings. In 2024, she reached her third final at the Hobart International. She started 2025 by winning her ninth WTA singles title at the Singapore Open, defeating Ann Li in the final.
2.3. Doubles career
Elise Mertens has achieved exceptional success in her doubles career, highlighted by multiple Grand Slam titles and a consistent presence at the top of the world rankings. She has won 21 doubles titles on the WTA Tour.
Her partnership with Aryna Sabalenka proved highly successful. In 2019, they achieved the coveted "Sunshine Double" by winning consecutive WTA 1000 doubles titles at the Indian Wells Open and the 2019 Miami Open. This made them the fifth doubles pairing in history to complete this feat. Later that year, Mertens and Sabalenka captured their first Grand Slam doubles title together at the US Open, defeating the team of Victoria Azarenka and Ashleigh Barty in the final. This victory propelled Mertens to a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 2.
In 2021, Mertens and Sabalenka continued their Grand Slam success, winning the Australian Open doubles title. Following this, on May 10, 2021, Mertens ascended to the world No. 1 ranking in doubles for the first time, becoming the second Belgian player to achieve this milestone after Kim Clijsters. She won her third major title at the Wimbledon Championships in 2021, partnering with Hsieh Su-wei. In a thrilling final, they saved two championship points to defeat Veronika Kudermetova and Elena Vesnina, securing Mertens's unbeaten record in major finals at that time and regaining her world No. 1 ranking. She also won the Indian Wells doubles title with Hsieh in 2021, again reclaiming the top doubles ranking.
In 2022, Mertens continued her doubles prowess, winning the Dubai doubles title with Veronika Kudermetova. She reached her second consecutive Wimbledon doubles final, partnering with Zhang Shuai, but they were defeated by Barbora Krejčíková and Kateřina Siniaková. Despite the loss, she regained her No. 1 doubles ranking on June 6, 2022. Later that year, Mertens and Kudermetova triumphed at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, marking Mertens as the first Belgian to win the year-end championship in doubles.
In 2023, partnering with Storm Hunter, Mertens won her fifth WTA 1000 title at the Italian Open in doubles. She returned to world No. 1 in doubles on September 25, 2023, after reaching the semifinals and subsequently winning the Guadalajara Open doubles title with Hunter. She concluded 2023 ranked No. 2 in doubles.
Mertens started 2024 by winning her fourth Grand Slam doubles title at the Australian Open, once again partnering with Hsieh Su-wei. This victory allowed her to regain the world No. 1 ranking in doubles. The pair continued their success by winning the Indian Wells Open in March and the Birmingham Classic in June.
2.4. Major tournament results
This section details Elise Mertens' performance in major tournaments, including Grand Slams, WTA Finals, and national team competitions.
2.4.1. Grand Slam performance
Elise Mertens has consistently performed well at the four Grand Slam tournaments in both singles and doubles.
In singles, her most notable performance was reaching the semifinals of the 2018 Australian Open. She has also reached the quarterfinals of the US Open twice, in 2019 and 2020. She has advanced to the fourth round of the French Open three times (2018, 2022, 2023) and Wimbledon twice (2019, 2022).
Her Grand Slam doubles record is particularly strong, with four titles to her name:
- 2019 US Open (with Aryna Sabalenka)
- 2021 Australian Open (with Aryna Sabalenka)
- 2021 Wimbledon Championships (with Hsieh Su-wei)
- 2024 Australian Open (with Hsieh Su-wei)
She has also been a runner-up in two Wimbledon doubles finals: the 2022 Wimbledon Championships (with Zhang Shuai) and the 2023 Wimbledon Championships (with Storm Hunter).
The following tables summarize her Grand Slam performance:
2.4.2. WTA Finals performance
Mertens has participated in the WTA Finals, the year-end championship for top-ranked players, achieving significant success in doubles.
| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 2021 | WTA Finals, Guadalajara | Hard | Hsieh Su-wei | Barbora Krejčíková Kateřina Siniaková | 3-6, 4-6 |
| Win | 2022 | WTA Finals, Fort Worth | Hard (i) | Veronika Kudermetova | Barbora Krejčíková Kateřina Siniaková | 6-2, 4-6, [11-9] |
2.4.3. Olympics and national competitions
Elise Mertens has proudly represented Belgium in various international team competitions. She has been a member of the Belgian team in the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup) since 2017, holding a record of 13 wins and 7 losses. Her team reached the quarterfinals in both 2018 and 2019.
Mertens also made her Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, competing in both the singles and doubles events. In both disciplines, she was eliminated in the first round.
3. Playing style
Elise Mertens is primarily a baseline player known for her balanced game, which integrates strong defensive capabilities with aggressive shot-making. Her groundstrokes are hit flat with minimal topspin, allowing her shots to penetrate deep into the court despite her relatively slender build. While both her forehand and backhand are reliable, her backhand is considered her stronger wing, responsible for the majority of her winners, particularly when redirecting power down the line. When in good form, Mertens can hit a significant number of winners, though this can sometimes be accompanied by a higher count of unforced errors. She plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand.
A major weapon in Mertens' arsenal is her return of serve, often hitting return winners and effectively neutralizing powerful first serves from opponents. Her own serve is strong; her first serve can peak at 119 mph (192 km/h) and averages around 99 mph (159 km/h), enabling her to serve multiple aces in a match. However, her first serve reliability can fluctuate, typically averaging a 58% first serve percentage. To mitigate double faults and prevent opponents from gaining easy points, Mertens possesses an effective second serve with considerable kick, averaging 79 mph (127 km/h).
Due to her extensive doubles experience, Mertens is a highly effective net player, frequently choosing to finish points at the net. Her exceptional fitness, stamina, speed, footwork, and court coverage allow her to excel at counterpunching, extending points until she can create opportunities for low-risk winners. This makes her one of the most effective players on the WTA Tour at transitioning from defense to offense through excellent point construction. Mertens is also noted for her extreme mental toughness, consistency, and determination on court, making her a formidable opponent. Although Mertens has stated that her favorite surface is grass, the majority of her career success has come on hard courts.
4. Career statistics
Elise Mertens' professional tennis career is marked by consistent performance and significant achievements across both singles and doubles disciplines. She has accumulated 15.83 M USD in career prize money, placing her among the top earners in women's tennis. Her professional record stands at 456 wins and 264 losses in singles, and 374 wins and 158 losses in doubles. She has won 9 singles titles and 21 doubles titles on the WTA Tour. Her career-high rankings are world No. 12 in singles and world No. 1 in doubles.
5. Legacy and influence
Elise Mertens holds a significant standing in the world of professional tennis, particularly as a prominent Belgian player. Her consistent performance and remarkable achievements, especially in doubles, have solidified her position among the sport's elite. By becoming the world No. 1 in doubles, she joined an exclusive group of Belgian tennis players, alongside legends like Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, who have reached the pinnacle of the sport's rankings. This accomplishment underscores her impact on Belgian tennis, inspiring a new generation of players in her home country.
Mertens is recognized for her dedication, mental toughness, and strategic approach to the game. Her ability to transition from defense to offense and her strong net play, honed through extensive doubles experience, serve as a model for aspiring players. Through her multiple Grand Slam titles and WTA Finals victory, she has left a notable mark on the sport, establishing herself as a role model who exemplifies perseverance and excellence on the court.