Belgian, Doubles, Sabalenka, Clijsters: Everything you always wanted to know about Elise Mertens (but never had time to find out) – updated at end of 2024

Who is Elise Mertens?

Elise Mertens is a Belgian tennis player who competes on the professional women’s tour. She was born in Leuven, Belgium and resides in Hamont-Achel, also in Belgium. She has been ranked No 1 in the world in doubles and won four Grand Slam doubles titles, as well as being ranked a career-high No 12 in singles.

What did Elise Mertens achieve in 2024?

Mertens won the 2024 Australian Open women’s doubles title, partnering with Hseih Su-Wei. The duo scored a 6-1, 7-5 win over Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko. This was the Belgian’s fourth Grand Slam doubles title.

Mertens won more than $1 million in singles and in doubles in 2024, the only woman to accomplish the feat.

How old is Elise Mertens?

Elise Mertens was born on November 17, 1995. Her mother, Liliane Barbe, teaches languages and history, while her father, Guido Mertens, makes furniture for churches.

When did Mertens start playing tennis?

Mertens began playing tennis when she was 4 years old. She was introduced to the sport by her older sister Lauren, who is an airline pilot.

Was Elise Mertens a good junior?

As a junior, Mertens peaked at No 7 in the ITF world junior rankings. Mertens won several Grade 1 and Grade 2 titles in singles & doubles, and her best performance at the junior slams came at the 2013 US Open where she reached the doubles semi-finals.

Has Elise Mertens won a Grand Slam?

Not in singles, but in doubles she has won four Grand Slam doubles titles, the 2019 US Open and the 2021 Australian Open, partnering with Aryna Sabalenka both times. Mertens then partnered Hsieh Su-wei to win Wimbledon in 2021 and then reunited with Hseih to win the Australian Open in 2024.

In singles, her best performance at the Grand Slams has been a semi-final appearance at the 2018 Australian Open, and back-to-back quarter-final appearances at the US Open in 2019 and 2020.

How many WTA titles has Elise Mertens won?

Mertens has won eight WTA singles titles. She won her first title in Hobart in 2017, followed by Hobart, Lugano, and Rabat in 2018, Doha in 2019 and the Gippsland Trophy (Melbourne) in 2021. She then won in Monastir in 2022.

Her most recent title came exactly a year later, again in Monastir, as she successfully defended her title to win the Jasmin Open for a second time. She beat Jamsine Paolini in the final in 2023 to clinch her eighth WTA singles title.

She has also won 21 WTA Tour doubles titles. Besides her Grand Slams, She won the WTA Finals in 2022 with Veronika Kudermetova. Others include 2019 Indian Wells & Miami (with Sabalenka); 2018 Hobart, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Wuhan (with Demi Schuurs), and Lugano (with Kirsten Flipkens).

What is Elise Mertens’ highest ranking?

Mertens’ highest doubles ranking has been No 1, which she reached for the first time in May 2021. Her best singles ranking has been No 12 which she first achieved in November 2018.

You can find Mertens’ updated ranking and ranking history on her WTA Tour profile page.

How much prize money has Elise Mertens won in her career?

Mertens has won over $13,384,548 in combined career prize money. You can find her updated prize money on her WTA Tour profile page.

Is Elise Mertens an animal lover?

Mertens loves animals and has several pets at home, including four dogs and several birds (pheasants, peacocks, chickens, cranes).

Mertens has also partnered with Beabond to launch a Mountain Gorilla Tag in support of the Virunga National Park to support their efforts around the critically endangered gorilla population.

Who are Mertens’ idols?

While growing up, Mertens looked up to her Belgian countrywomen, Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, both former world No 1s and multiple Grand Slam champions. Mertens has been training at the Kim Clijsters Academy since 2015.

Is Elise Mertens on social media?

Elise Mertens has her own official website. The Belgian also keeps her fans regularly posted on her life via Instagram (over 93,000 followers), Twitter (33,400 followers) and Facebook (70,000 followers).