Elise Mertens Profile for Indian Wells 2027
The Belgian former world number 1 in doubles and long time top singles player. Read her biography, family, coach, ranking, titles, net worth and full BNP Paribas Open record.
Elise Mertens Biography and Overview
Elise Mertens is a Belgian professional tennis player born on November 17 1995 in Leuven and living in Hamont Achel, Belgium. She is a former world number 1 in doubles and a long standing top singles player, right handed with a two handed backhand and a smart all court game. She has won 10 WTA singles titles and more than 18 doubles titles, including six Grand Slam doubles crowns, and reached the 2018 Australian Open singles semifinal.
At the BNP Paribas Open 2027 at Indian Wells, running from February 28 to March 14 2027, she is a three time doubles champion and a 2024 singles fourth round player. Her name is pronounced eh LEEZ MER tens, and she is not related to the footballer Dries Mertens.
Elise Mertens Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Elise Mertens |
| Date of birth | November 17 1995 |
| Age | 30 |
| Birthplace | Leuven, Belgium |
| Residence | Hamont Achel, Belgium |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Languages | Dutch and Flemish, French and English |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in or 179 cm |
| Weight | Not officially published |
| Plays | Right handed, two handed backhand, all court |
| Turned pro | 2013 |
| Coach | Christopher Heyman, who is also her partner |
| Racket | Head Speed line |
| Career high singles | No 12 on November 26 2018 |
| Career high doubles | No 1 on May 10 2021 |
| Current singles ranking | Around No 14 in late 2026 |
| Current doubles ranking | Around No 8, former world No 1 |
| Career prize money | Over 20 million dollars |
Who Is Elise Mertens
Elise Mertens is one of Belgium leading players and, after Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, the third Belgian to hold a world number 1 ranking in either singles or doubles, which she achieved in doubles in May 2021. She is a six time Grand Slam doubles champion and a former top 12 singles player who reached a major semifinal at the 2018 Australian Open.
Elise Mertens Playing Style
Rather than relying on power, she plays a complete all court game built on depth, placement, a reliable serve and excellent doubles instincts. She is widely respected as one of the most consistent competitors on tour and is effective on every surface, with most of her singles titles on hard courts, two on clay in 2018 and a grass court title in 2025.
Elise Mertens Family and Background
Mertens grew up in a close Belgian family in Leuven, was home schooled to fit her tennis around her studies, and became fluent in Dutch and Flemish, French and English. She grew up admiring Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, and her first tennis memory is watching Clijsters play live.
Elise Mertens Parents Sister and Partner
| Family member | Details |
|---|---|
| Father | Guido Mertens, who makes furniture for churches |
| Mother | Liliane Barbe, a teacher of languages and history |
| Sister | Lauren Mertens, her older sister, an airline pilot with KLM who introduced Elise to tennis at age four |
| Partner | Christopher Heyman, a Belgian former player who is also her coach |
Elise Mertens Boyfriend Christopher Heyman
Mertens is not married. She is in a relationship with her coach Christopher Heyman, which she confirmed publicly in 2025, and the couple keep their private life low key. She was previously in a long term relationship with former coach Robbe Ceyssens. She does not have children.
Elise Mertens Education
Mertens was home schooled during her junior years to balance school with her tennis travel, and she particularly enjoyed studying languages, which is why she speaks three fluently today. Away from the court she is an animal lover with several pets, and in 2021 she launched a charitable initiative supporting Virunga National Park and its work to protect gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Elise Mertens Coach and Support Team
| Period | Coach or academy |
|---|---|
| Current | Christopher Heyman, who is also her partner |
| Earlier tour years | Robbe Ceyssens, a former coach and former partner, plus spells with Alexander Kneepkens, Dieter Kindlmann, Daniel Goffin and Philippe Dehaes |
| Development | Belgian federation as a child, a year at the Mouratoglou Academy in Paris, then the Kim Clijsters Academy from 2015 until it closed in 2022 |
Elise Mertens Professional Tennis Career
2017 and 2018 Breakthrough Years
Mertens broke through in January 2017 by winning the Hobart International as a qualifier, becoming the first qualifier to win a WTA title since 2016 and cracking the top 100. Her best singles season came in 2018, when she won three titles at Hobart, Lugano and Rabat, and reached the Australian Open semifinal by beating Elina Svitolina for her first top five win. She became the first Belgian woman in the last four in Melbourne since Henin and Clijsters.
2019 to 2023 Titles and Grand Slam Quarterfinals
She added the Qatar Ladies Open in 2019, beating Kiki Bertens, Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep, reached back to back US Open quarterfinals in 2019 and 2020, and won further singles titles at the Gippsland Trophy in 2021 and the Jasmin Open in Monastir in 2022 and 2023.
2025 and 2026 Late Career Peak
In 2025 she won Singapore and the grass court Libema Open, and in 2026 she reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals and the Beijing semifinals, where she beat Iga Swiatek. In parallel she built one of the finest doubles careers of her era, reaching number 1 and winning six majors and two WTA Finals doubles titles.
Elise Mertens Titles and Records
Elise Mertens Singles and Doubles Records
| Category | Singles | Doubles |
|---|---|---|
| Career high ranking | No 12 on November 26 2018 | No 1 on May 10 2021 |
| Current ranking | Around No 14 | Around No 8 |
| WTA Tour titles | 10 | More than 18 |
| Grand Slam best | Semifinal at the 2018 Australian Open | Six time champion |
| WTA Finals | Did not qualify in singles | Champion 2022 and 2025 and runner up 2021 |
Elise Mertens WTA Singles Titles
| Event | Year | Surface |
|---|---|---|
| Hobart International | 2017 | Hard |
| Hobart International | 2018 | Hard |
| Ladies Open Lugano | 2018 | Clay |
| Rabat Grand Prix | 2018 | Clay |
| Qatar Ladies Open Doha | 2019 | Hard |
| Gippsland Trophy Melbourne | 2021 | Hard |
| Jasmin Open Monastir | 2022 | Hard |
| Jasmin Open Monastir | 2023 | Hard |
| Singapore Open | 2025 | Indoor hard |
| Libema Open | 2025 | Grass |
Elise Mertens Grand Slam Doubles Titles
| Tournament | Year | Partner |
|---|---|---|
| US Open | 2019 | Aryna Sabalenka |
| Australian Open | 2021 | Aryna Sabalenka |
| Wimbledon | 2021 | Hsieh Su Wei |
| Australian Open | 2024 | Hsieh Su Wei |
| Wimbledon | 2025 | Veronika Kudermetova |
| Australian Open | 2026 | Zhang Shuai |
Elise Mertens Best Grand Slam Singles Results
| Tournament | Best result |
|---|---|
| Australian Open | Semifinal in 2018 |
| French Open | Fourth round in 2018 and 2022 and 2023 |
| Wimbledon | Quarterfinal in 2026 |
| US Open | Quarterfinal in 2019 and 2020 |
Elise Mertens Ranking and Points
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Career high singles | No 12 on November 26 2018 |
| Current singles ranking | Around No 14 in late 2026 |
| Career high doubles | No 1 on May 10 2021 |
| Current doubles ranking | Around No 8 and a former world number 1 |
Rankings and points change every week, so check the live Elise Mertens ranking on the official WTA website right before the 2027 BNP Paribas Open.
Elise Mertens at the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells 2027
The BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California is the largest combined WTA and ATP event outside the four Grand Slams, a WTA 1000 tournament on outdoor hard courts often called the fifth Grand Slam. It is played over two weeks with a 96 player singles draw in which the top 32 seeds receive a first round bye. See the full Indian Wells 2027 schedule and tickets guide and the Indian Wells 2027 players and draws page.
Indian Wells 2027 Dates and Draw
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament dates | February 28 to March 14 2027 |
| Family Day | February 27 2027 |
| Women qualifying | February 28 to March 2 2027 |
| Main draw begins | March 3 2027 |
| Surface | Outdoor hard courts |
| Seeds and draw | Released just before play begins, when her seeding, section and opening opponent are set |
Elise Mertens Indian Wells Singles Year by Year
| Year | Round reached | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Main draw expected | To be confirmed when the draw is released |
| 2026 | Third round | Included a straight sets win over Cristina Bucsa |
| 2025 | Third round | Lost a tight three set match to Madison Keys |
| 2024 | Fourth round, her best singles result | Beat Naomi Osaka to reach the round of 16, then lost to Coco Gauff |
| 2023 | First round | Lost her opening match to Wang Xinyu |
| 2022 | Third round | Defeated Marta Kostyuk before losing to Daria Saville |
| 2021 | Second round | Received a first round bye as a seed, then fell to Jasmine Paolini |
| 2019 | Third round | Beat Amanda Anisimova but fell to Wang Qiang in three sets |
| 2018 | Second round | Received a first round bye and lost her opening match to Wang Qiang |
| 2017 | Qualifying | Did not come through qualifying |
Her career singles record at the event is about 6 wins and 8 losses with no title. The 2020 edition was not held and in 2016 she did not play.
Elise Mertens Indian Wells Doubles Titles
| Year | Result | Partner |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Champion | Hsieh Su Wei |
| 2021 | Champion | Hsieh Su Wei |
| 2019 | Champion | Aryna Sabalenka |
The 2019 title was part of a Sunshine Double with Sabalenka, who also won Miami alongside her that spring. Mertens is one of only a handful of women to have lifted the Indian Wells doubles trophy three or more times.
Elise Mertens Indian Wells 2027 Outlook
As an experienced former top 12 singles player and a former doubles number 1 who knows these courts well, Mertens is a dangerous floater or seed in singles and a genuine title contender in doubles. Her consistency and variety, shown again by a run to the 2026 Wimbledon singles quarterfinals and a strong autumn that included beating Iga Swiatek to reach the Beijing semifinals, make her a tough early round draw for anyone in the desert.
Elise Mertens Net Worth and Prize Money
Elise Mertens has earned over 20 million dollars in official career prize money, placing her among the highest earners in WTA history, driven in large part by her sustained success in doubles. Her overall net worth is reported in the range of 10 to 20 million dollars once prize money, endorsements and her long time racket deal with Head are included. These figures are media estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions About Elise Mertens
Is Elise Mertens related to Dries Mertens?
No. Despite sharing the common Belgian surname, Elise Mertens the tennis player is not related to the footballer Dries Mertens.
Who is Elise Mertens boyfriend or husband?
She is not married. She is in a relationship with her coach Christopher Heyman, a Belgian former player, and the couple keep their private life low key.
Does Elise Mertens have children?
No, she does not have children.
Is Elise Mertens dating her coach?
Yes. Her current coach Christopher Heyman is also her partner, which she confirmed publicly in 2025.
How do you pronounce Elise Mertens?
It is pronounced eh LEEZ MER tens, with the Dutch pronunciation roughly ay LEE zuh MER tuns.
Where is Elise Mertens from and where does she live?
She was born in Leuven, Belgium, and lives in Hamont Achel, Belgium.
How old is Elise Mertens and how tall is she?
She was born on November 17 1995, making her 30, and she is 5 ft 10 in or 179 cm tall.
What is Elise Mertens ranking?
Her singles career high is No 12, set in November 2018, and she was world number 1 in doubles in 2021. Her current singles ranking is around No 14 and her doubles ranking is around No 8.
How many Grand Slams has Elise Mertens won?
Six, all in doubles. They are the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open with Aryna Sabalenka, the 2021 Wimbledon and 2024 Australian Open with Hsieh Su Wei, the 2025 Wimbledon with Veronika Kudermetova and the 2026 Australian Open with Zhang Shuai. Her best singles result is the 2018 Australian Open semifinal.
Has Elise Mertens won Wimbledon?
Yes, in doubles. She won the Wimbledon doubles title in 2021 with Hsieh Su Wei and in 2025 with Veronika Kudermetova. In singles her best Wimbledon result is the 2026 quarterfinal.
How many titles has Elise Mertens won?
Ten WTA singles titles and more than 18 doubles titles.
Who are Elise Mertens main doubles partners?
Her most successful partnerships have been with Aryna Sabalenka, Hsieh Su Wei, Veronika Kudermetova and Zhang Shuai.
What is Elise Mertens net worth?
Her career prize money is over 20 million dollars and her overall net worth is reported in the 10 to 20 million dollar range, all as media estimates.
What racket does Elise Mertens use?
She plays with a Head racket, historically from the Head Speed line.
What languages does Elise Mertens speak?
She is fluent in Dutch and Flemish, French and English.
What is Elise Mertens playing style?
She is an all court player who relies on consistency, depth, placement, a dependable serve and strong net and doubles instincts rather than overwhelming power.
What is Elise Mertens best surface?
She is effective on all surfaces. Most of her singles titles came on hard courts, with two on clay in 2018 and a grass court title in 2025.
Is Elise Mertens good on grass?
Yes. She won the grass court Libema Open in 2025 and has multiple grass court doubles titles, including two at Wimbledon.
Has Elise Mertens beaten Iga Swiatek?
Yes. In 2026 she beat Iga Swiatek to reach the Beijing semifinals.
Did Elise Mertens play at the Olympics?
Yes, she represented Belgium at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in both singles and doubles, and she has played Billie Jean King Cup for Belgium since 2017.
What is Elise Mertens best result at Indian Wells?
In singles, the fourth round in 2024 after beating Naomi Osaka. In doubles she is a three time champion in 2019, 2021 and 2024.
Has Elise Mertens won the BNP Paribas Open in singles?
No. Her best singles run at Indian Wells is the 2024 fourth round, though she has won the doubles title there three times.
When is the BNP Paribas Open 2027 and on what surface?
From February 28 to March 14 2027 on outdoor hard courts at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California.
Will Elise Mertens be seeded at the BNP Paribas Open 2027?
Her seeding depends on her ranking when the draw is released in late February 2027. Her doubles pedigree makes her a strong contender in that discipline regardless of her singles seed.
