Elise Mertens

Mertens has won five singles and nine doubles titles on the WTA Tour, including one Grand Slam doubles title at the 2019 US Open, as well as eleven singles and thirteen doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. She has a career-high singles ranking of world No. 12, achieved on 26 November 2018, and a best doubles ranking of No. 2, achieved on 9 September 2019.

In January, Mertens won the Hobart International, beating No. 3 seed Monica Niculescu in the final. As a result of this she broke into the WTA top 100 for the first time, on 16 January 2017.

Mertens began the season by becoming the first woman to win back-to-back titles in Hobart. She defeated Mihaela Buzărnescu in the final, defending her title from 2017. Along with Demi Schuurs, she also won the doubles title.

Mertens' season continued with her main-draw debut at the Australian Open. She defeated qualifier Viktória Kužmová, 23rd seed Daria Gavrilova, Alizé Cornet and Petra Martić, all in straight sets, to advance to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. In the quarterfinal, Mertens achieved her first victory over a top five ranked player, defeating Elina Svitolina, again in straight sets. With her win over Svitolina, Mertens became the third Belgian woman to reach the last four at the tournament, joining former ranking leaders Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters. In the semifinals she lost to Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets.

Just two days later, Mertens played in Dubai, where she was placed as 16th seed. She lost in her opening-match against qualifier Zhu Lin after a battle of near three hours.

Mertens made her WTA main-draw debut at the 2015 Copa Colsanitas in the doubles event, partnering Nastja Kolar. She won her first WTA doubles title at the 2016 ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, partnering An-Sophie Mestach.

Mertens was born in Leuven, the second daughter of Liliane Barbe, a teacher, and Guido Mertens, who makes furniture for churches. She was home-schooled and enjoyed studying languages, having learned to speak French, English and Dutch/Flemish. Her older sister, Lauren, is currently an airline pilot and introduced the then 4-year-old Elise to tennis. While growing up, Mertens looked up to Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, and is currently a member of the Kim Clijsters Academy, where she has been training since 2015. She is not related to Belgium’s international footballer Dries Mertens or fellow tennis player Yannick Mertens.

In March, Mertens started her American tour at Indian Wells. She was 16th seeded but lost in the third round in another battle near three hours against Chinese 18th seed Wang Qiang. Even though she lost early in singles, she was able to win her biggest doubles title to date, alongside Aryna Sabalenka at Indian Wells. Defeating first seeds Barbora Krejčíková and Kateřina Siniaková in the final. Two weeks later, the pair was also able to win the Miami Open doubles title, completing the Sunshine Double. Mertens and Sabalenka became just the fifth doubles pairing in history, and first since Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza in 2015, to complete the Sunshine Double in doubles.

As semifinalist of last year, she entered at the Australian Open as 12th seed, she won her first and second match in straight sets before falling to 17th seed Madison Keys in the third round.

Elise Mertens (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɛrtəns] ; born 17 November 1995) is a Belgian professional tennis player.