Emma Raducanu’s comeback at Wimbledon this season is a welcome surprise! After all, even after encountering a change of player in the first round, Raducanu has steered luck in her favor with her skills on-court. Elise Mertens is next up to challenge her skills on grass. The 28-year-old Belgian player is now gearing up to put up an intense fight against the Brit. Although her prowess in singles is remarkable, in doubles, her skills have made her shine even more! Capitalizing on her exceptional talent in doubles, she has bagged a huge sum of prize money, too!

The No. 1 in doubles currently, Elise Mertens’ always leaves fans wanting more. After all, the four-time doubles major champion has made her mark in the US Open, the Australian Open, and Wimbledon! As a result, her career’s prize money sums up to an astounding $14,033,047. Interestingly, this is more than three times Emma Raducanu’s prize money ($4,067,065). Unlike Raducanu, who reached the top through her singles performances, Mertens’ passion lay in doubles. Wondering when and how she aced the doubles? 

The 21 doubles title winner, who turned pro in 2013, showed early signs of her prowess in the doubles as a junior-level player. Winning her first doubles title in 2016 in Auckland, Elise Mertens, who currently has a 368-150 record in doubles, knows how to dominate the court with different partners on-court! She won her first doubles slam at the 2019 US Open but had to wait for two years to produce the same result in the Australian Open of 2021. 

Interestingly, during the Australian Open, she partnered with none other than World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka! However, that’s not the only time she won the doubles in Melbourne. With her exceptional on-court skills, she once again won the doubles in 2024. However, her partner was different this time: Hsieh Su-wei. Wondering if that’s it? Well, no! On the grass courts of Wimbledon, her results speak volumes as well. 

Ruling the doubles category in this event since 2021, Mertens’ journey ended as a runner-up at Wimbledon in the last two consecutive years! In singles, the former World No. 12 has also made her mark by winning 8 titles. However, it is in the doubles that she has found her comfort and success. Although she has won four doubles majors, much like every player, winning her first was a special moment for her.

Elise Mertens describes her partnership with Aryna Sabalenka during the doubles final at the 2019 US Open 

In 2019, Elise Mertens asked Aryna Sabalenka a question that kept her mind occupied for days. When she finally asked her if she would doubles with her in the US Open, the Belarusian player enthusiastically agreed! Although Sabalenka had never played doubles, Elise Mertens trusted her talent and brought her to New York. The rest is history! 

Describing her partnership with Sabalenka, Mertens said, “It really worked out well. She would hit those really hard flat balls while I would have to use my hands at the net. That’s the combination that we use, and it works.” With their amazing partnership on-court, they defeated Victoria Azarenka and Ashleigh Barty 7-5, 7-5 in the finals. “The US Open women’s doubles title was an amazing feeling. Me and Aryna just started playing together so we really didn’t expect it. We played together because we wanted to have some fun,” Mertens said after her win.

However, this season at Wimbledon, the challenge is different. Mertens, who lost the second round last season, now has to surpass Emma Raducanu in the second round. Much like her doubles performances, Mertens will be looking to conquer her dreams in the singles, too!