Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Elise Mertens

How Elise Mertens built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Elise Mertens is a Belgian professional tennis player who achieved the world No. 1 ranking in doubles on May 10, 2021. She is the third Belgian to reach the top ranking in either singles or doubles, following Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin. Mertens has had a successful career, having won 30 WTA Tour titles.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2015: WTA Main-Draw Debut

In 2015, Elise Mertens made her WTA Tour main-draw debut at the Copa Colsanitas in the doubles event, partnering with Nastja Kolar.

2015: Sunshine Double in Doubles

In March, Mertens and Sabalenka became the fifth doubles pairing in history, and first since Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza in 2015, to complete the Sunshine Double in doubles.

2016: First WTA Doubles Title

In 2016, Elise Mertens won her first WTA doubles title at the Auckland Open, partnering with An-Sophie Mestach.

January 2017: Hobart International Win & Top 100 Ranking

In January 2017, Elise Mertens won the Hobart International, beating Monica Niculescu in the final, and broke into the WTA top 100 for the first time on January 16, 2017.

2017: Defends Hobart Title

In 2018, Elise Mertens began the season by becoming the first woman to win back-to-back titles in Hobart, defending her title from 2017. She defeated Mihaela Buzărnescu in the final and also won the doubles title with Demi Schuurs.

2017: Represents Belgium in Billie Jean King Cup

Since 2017, Elise Mertens has represented Belgium in the Billie Jean King Cup.

November 2018: Career-High Singles Ranking

In November 2018, Elise Mertens achieved her career-high singles ranking of world No. 12.

2018: US Open Doubles Title

At the US Open in 2019, playing doubles with Sabalenka, the pair defeated Victoria Azarenka and Ashleigh Barty in the final, winning their first Grand Slam doubles title both as a team. In the early summer hardcourt season of 2019, Mertens struggled to replicate her 2018 success.

2019: US Open Quarterfinals

In 2019, Elise Mertens reached the US Open quarterfinals in singles.

2019: US Open Doubles Champion

In 2019, Elise Mertens won the US Open doubles title partnering with Aryna Sabalenka.

2020: US Open Quarterfinals and Doubles Title Defense

At the 2020 US Open, Mertens made it to the quarterfinals of the US Open for the second consecutive year. Mertens and Sabalenka also played doubles together, where they were the defending champions, but were beaten in the quarterfinals.

2020: Tokyo Olympics Participation

In 2020, Elise Mertens competed at the Tokyo Olympics in both singles and doubles.

2020: US Open Quarterfinals

In 2020, Elise Mertens reached the US Open quarterfinals in singles.

May 2021: Regained World No. 1 Doubles Ranking

By reaching the Wimbledon final and winning the title in doubles in July 2021, Elise Mertens regained the world No. 1 spot she held previously for a week in May 2021.

May 2021: Became World No. 1 in Doubles

In May 2021, Elise Mertens became world No. 1 in doubles, making her the third Belgian to hold the top ranking in either singles or doubles after Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.

May 2021: Became World No. 1 in Doubles for the First Time

On 10 May 2021, Elise Mertens achieved a significant milestone in her doubles career by becoming the world No. 1 for the first time, joining Kim Clijsters as the second Belgian player to do so.

2021: Indian Wells Doubles Title and Coaching Change

In 2021, Elise Mertens and Hsieh Su-wei won the Indian Wells doubles title. At the end of 2021 she decided to stop her longstanding collaboration with her coach Ceyssens, choosing Simon Goffin, David Goffin's brother instead.

2021: WTA Finals Runner-Up

In 2021, Elise Mertens finished as runner-up at the WTA Finals alongside Hsieh Su-wei.

2021: Gippsland Trophy Win and Australian Open Doubles Title

In 2021, Elise Mertens won her sixth career singles title at the Gippsland Trophy, beating Kaia Kanepi in the final, and she and Sabalenka won their second Grand Slam title as a team at the Australian Open, defeating Krejčíková/Siniaková in the championship match.

2021: Australian Open Doubles Champion

In 2021, Elise Mertens, partnering with Aryna Sabalenka, won the Australian Open doubles title.

June 2022: Regained No. 1 Ranking in Doubles

Despite a third-round loss at Roland Garros, Elise Mertens regained her No. 1 ranking in doubles following the conclusion of the tournament on 6 June 2022.

August 2022: Lost World No. 1 Doubles Ranking

Elise Mertens lost her world No. 1 doubles ranking on 14 August 2022.

2022: Wimbledon Championships Runner-Up

In 2022, Elise Mertens finished as runner-up at the Wimbledon Championships with Zhang Shuai.

2022: Australian Open Run

In 2022, Elise Mertens started her season at the Sydney Tennis Classic where she lost to Daria Kasatkina in the second round. Seeded 19th at the Australian Open, she reached the fourth round where she was defeated by Danielle Collins. Seeded third in doubles, she reached the semifinals with Veronika Kudermetova where they lost to eventual champions Krejčíková and Siniaková.

2022: WTA Finals Doubles Title

In 2022, Elise Mertens won the WTA Finals doubles title with Veronika Kudermetova.

April 2023: Returned to Top 30

On 3 April 2023, Elise Mertens returned to the top 30 at world No. 29 following a fourth round showing at the 2023 Miami Open where she defeated Alycia Parks, eighth seed Daria Kasatkina and 29th seed Petra Martić.

May 2023: Italian Open Doubles Title and Return to Top 10

In May 2023, Elise Mertens won her fifth WTA 1000 title partnering with Hunter at the Italian Open, and as a result, she returned to the top 10 in doubles on 22 May 2023.

September 2023: Returned to World No. 1 in Doubles

On 25 September 2023, Elise Mertens returned to world No. 1 in doubles after more than a year, following a semifinal showing at the Guadalajara Open with Hunter. They went on to win the title.

2023: Won the 2023 Jasmin Open

In 2023 Elise Mertens won her eighth singles title at the 2023 Jasmin Open in Monastir, by defending it with a win over Italian Jasmine Paolini, and returned to the top 30 in the rankings.

2023: Wimbledon Championships Runner-Up

In 2023, Elise Mertens finished as runner-up at the Wimbledon Championships with Storm Hunter.

2023: Reached Semifinals at ATP Finals and Ranked No. 2 in Doubles

In 2023, Elise Mertens reached the semifinals in doubles with Hunter at the ATP Finals and finished the year ranked No. 2 in doubles for the first time.