Elise Mertens is a prominent Belgian professional tennis player, born on November 17, 1995, in Leuven, Belgium.
Known for her strong performance on both the singles and doubles circuits, she has made significant strides in her career since turning pro in 2013.
In doubles, Mertens has experienced remarkable success, reaching the world No. 1 ranking on May 10, 2021.
Throughout her career, she has secured four Grand Slam titles in doubles and has accumulated a total of 21 doubles titles overall.
With a playing style that combines power and precision, she has earned approximately $15.8 million in career prize money.
Siblings
Elise has one sibling, an older sister named Lauren Mertens. Lauren is an airline pilot and played a significant role in introducing Elise to tennis when she was just four years old.
Their parents, Guido Mertens and Liliane Barbe, have supported Elise’s tennis career by opting for home schooling, allowing her to focus on her training alongside her education.
Career
Mertens began her journey in tennis at a young age, introduced to the sport by her older sister, Lauren.
Growing up in Leuven, Belgium, she displayed exceptional talent early on. Her family supported her ambitions by opting for home schooling, allowing her to dedicate herself to both academics and rigorous tennis training.
After turning professional in 2013, she steadily climbed the ranks, gaining experience and confidence through consistent performances.
Mertens had her breakthrough moment in 2017 when she won her first WTA title at the Hobart International. This victory marked the start of her rise to prominence on the global stage.
By 2018, she had broken into the top 50 and reached her career-best Grand Slam singles performance at the Australian Open, where she advanced to the semifinals.
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In 2019, she achieved another milestone by winning the prestigious Doha Open in singles, defeating top-ranked opponents along the way.
Her singles career reached its peak ranking of world No. 12 on January 27, 2020.
In doubles, Mertens has enjoyed even greater success, establishing herself as one of the best players in this format.
She has won four Grand Slam doubles titles: the Australian Open in 2021 with Aryna Sabalenka, the US Open in 2019 with Hsieh Su-wei, and both Wimbledon and the French Open in 2021 with Hsieh Su-wei.
Her dominance in doubles was cemented when she reached the world No. 1 ranking on May 10, 2021.
Over her career, she has amassed a total of 21 doubles titles and has been a consistent force in major tournaments.
Mertens is known for her tactical intelligence on the court and her ability to adapt to different opponents and playing styles.
Accolades
Mertens has garnered numerous accolades throughout her professional tennis career, establishing herself as one of the leading players in both singles and doubles formats.
She achieved a significant milestone by reaching the world No. 1 ranking in doubles on May 10, 2021, becoming only the third Belgian to hold such a ranking in either singles or doubles, following in the footsteps of Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.
In terms of Grand Slam success, Mertens is a four-time major champion in doubles.
She won her first Grand Slam title at the 2019 US Open with Aryna Sabalenka and followed this with another victory at the 2021 Australian Open.
Additionally, she claimed titles at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships and the 2024 Australian Open, partnering with Hsieh Su-wei.
Her accomplishments also include winning the WTA Finals in 2022 alongside Veronika Kudermetova, making her the first Belgian to win this prestigious event in doubles.
Mertens has also completed the Sunshine Double, a rare achievement where she won both the Indian Wells and Miami Open titles in the same year (2019) with her partner Sabalenka.
In singles, Mertens reached her career-high ranking of No. 12 in November 2018 and has had notable performances in Grand Slam tournaments, including reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2018 and quarterfinals at the US Open in both 2019 and 2020.
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