Elena Rybakina meets Elise Mertens tonight in a Cincinnati Open Round of 32 clash with plenty at stake.
Rybakina, ranked No. 10, is carrying solid momentum from back-to-back semifinal runs in Washington and Montreal, powered by her aggressive serve and penetrating baseline game. Her 2025 hard-court record of 22–9 underlines her consistency at the top level. But she comes into tonight’s match after a tough three-set second-round battle against No. 70 Renata Zarazúa.
Mertens, world No. 22, counters with experience and composure. She arrived in Cincinnati seeking form after grinding through recent rounds, including a tough comeback over Clervie Ngounoue in the opener. A seasoned campaigner, she knows how to compete with powerful foes when she can impose her all-court game.
Rybakina–Mertens Head-to-Head
Rybakina leads their head-to-head 5–1 and has won their last four meetings and all four matches on hard courts. Their last hard-court meeting was not close, with Rybakina winning in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0. Four years ago, they faced off in Cincinnati, with Rybakina winning 6-3, 6-2.
Prediction
Rybakina in 2 straight sets. Her hard-court dominance over Mertens is established. Expect her to dictate play with her serve, control baseline exchanges, and keep rallies short to neutralize Mertens’ variety.
How to Watch Elena Rybakina vs. Elise Mertens
The Rybakina-Mertens match is expected to start at around 10:00 PM Eastern on Center Court at the Linder Family Tennis Center, after Jannik Sinner’s tough, straight-sets win over Gabriel Diallo.
The match may air live on the Tennis Channel or its streaming-only T2 Channel, available for free on Amazon Prime Video here.
The Tennis Channel has a live stream simulcast of its TV coverage here, along with a dedicated feed for the Rybakina-Mertens match here.
If none of these viewing options work for you, the Tennis Channel has a standalone streaming subscription available for $9.99/month or $109.99/year.
Date: Monday, August 11, 2025
Expected Start Time: 10:00 PM Eastern (after Sinner-Diallo)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio
Court: Center Court
TV: Tennis Channel
Streaming: Tennis Channel app and website
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