Personal

Formerly worked with Alexander Kneepkens, Robbie Ceyssens, Dieter Kindlmann, Daniel Goffin and Philippe Dehaes
Previously trained under Belgian Federation until early teens, also spent a year at the Mouratoglou Academy in Paris
Mother is Liliane Barbe (teaches languages and history); father is Guido Mertens (makes furniture for churches). Began playing tennis at age 4, introduced to game by older sister Lauren, an airline pilot with KLM
First tennis memory is watching Kim Clijsters playing live
Was home schooled, enjoyed studying languages; speaks English, Dutch/Flemish and French
Loves animals and has lots of pets at home
In 2021, launched a charitable initiative to support the Virunga National Park's efforts to save the gorilla population in the Democratic Republic of Congo. During 2021 season she will be wearing a Virunga Ranger necklace and sporting a badge on her bag to help raise awareness

Career Highlights

SINGLES
Winner (8): 2023 - Monastir; 2022 - Monastir; 2021 - Gippsland Trophy; 2019 - Doha; 2018 - Hobart, Lugano, Rabat; 2017 - Hobart.
Finalist (5): 2024 - Hobart; 2021 - Istanbul; 2020 - Prague, Linz; 2017 - Istanbul.
DOUBLES
Winner (20): 2024 - Australian Open (w/Hsieh), Indian Wells (w/Hsieh); 2023 - Guadalajara, Rome (both w/Hunter) 2022 - Dubai, WTA Finals Fort Worth (both w/Kudermetova); 2021 - Australian Open (w/Sabalenka), Istanbul (w/Kudermetova), Wimbledon, Indian Wells (both w/Hsieh); 2020 - Ostrava (w/Sabalenka); 2019 - Indian Wells, Miami, US Open (all w/Sabalenka); 2018 - Hobart, 's-Hertogenbosch, Wuhan (all w/Schuurs), Lugano (w/Flipkens); 2017 - Guangzhou (w/Schuurs); 2016 - Auckland (w/Mestach).
Finalist (12):2023 - Wimbledon (w/Hunter); 2022 - Doha, Miami, 's-Hertogenbosch (all w/Kudermetova), Birmingham (w/Zhang), Wimbledon (w/Zhang); 2021 - WTA Finals (w/Hsieh); 2019 - Wuhan (w/Sabalenka); 2018 - Birmingham, Cincinnati (both w/Schuurs); 2017 - Bucharest (w/Schuurs), Istanbul (w/Melichar).

ADDITIONAL
WTA 125K Series Titles - Doubles (1): 2016 - Limoges (w/Minella).
Belgian Billie Jean King Cup Team, 2017-20.

Career in Review

Ended 2023 as only Top 100 player to finish year exactly where she started, at No. 29. Strongest singles results came at Monastir, successfully defending her title (d. Paolini), and SF at Monterrey (l. Garcia). Achieved a year-end doubles ranking of No. 2 after lifting two titles at Guadalajara and Rome (w/Hunter) and SF at WTA Finals Cancun (l. eventual champions Siegemund/Zvonareva).

Finished 2022 ranked No.29 in singles, her sixth consecutive Top 50 finish; also finished No.5 in doubles for her fourth consecutive Top 10 finish in doubles and second consecutive Top 5 finish

Lifted seventh WTA title, at 2022 Monastir (d. Cornet in F), while in doubles alongside partner Kudermetova won Dubai and WTA Finals, as well as finished R-Up at Wimbledon

Enjoyed a productive start to 2021 season in Melbourne, triumphing at the Gippsland Trophy (d. Kanepi in F) to lift sixth WTA singles title, then teamed up w/Sabalenka at Australian Open to claim second Grand Slam doubles title (d. Krejcikova/Siniakova in F). Later in the year, won third career Grand Slam doubles title, at Wimbledon w/Hsieh

Won the most matches on Tour in 2020, going 34-13 across the season and finishing as R-Up at both Prague (l. Halep) and Linz (l. Sabalenka)

Earned her milestone 200th career main draw win with victory over Kalinina in 1r at 2020 Linz

Singles highlights in 2019 were winning biggest title of career at Doha (d. No.3 Halep in final) and advancing to QF at US Open for the first time (l. eventual champion Andreescu in 3s)

Enjoyed standout season in doubles in 2019 - won maiden major doubles title at US Open w/Sabalenka (d. Azarenka/Barty in F). Also Completed 'Sunshine Double' in doubles (w/Sabalenka), lifting the back-to-back titles at Indian Wells (d. Krejcikova/Siniakova) and Miami (d. Stosur/Zhang), and qualified for Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen (went 1-2 in RR)

Advanced to first Grand Slam SF of career at 2018 Australian Open (l. eventual champion Wozniacki)

During 2018, lifted titles at Hobart, Rabat and Lugano, finishing with 46 main-draw match wins across the campaign - only Ka.Pliskova (49) and Kvitova (47) registered more. By contrast, prior to 2018 season owned only 36 wins at this level across entire career

In doubles in 2018, won four titles and reached QF at WTA Finals (w/Schuurs)

Finished 2017 season at No.35, up from No.120 in 2016 - first Top 50 and Top 100 year-end finish. Season highlighted by first career singles title at Hobart (as a qualifier, d. Niculescu in F)

Registered first Top-10 win of career over No.10 Cibulkova in 1r at 2017 Beijing

Made WTA singles main draw debut at 2016 's-Hertogenbosch - made QF (as qualifier, l. Mladenovic)

Won first WTA title of any kind in doubles at 2016 Auckland (w/Mestach)

Played first Tour-level event of career at 2015 Antwerp (fell in qualifying)

Played first events of career on ITF Circuit in Belgium in 2010; owns 11 singles and 14 doubles titles on ITF Circuit