World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka against crafty Belgian Elise Mertens, seeded 24th, in their Wimbledon Round of 16 showdown.
Sabalenka enters unbeaten and dominant. She’s yet to drop a set and has demonstrated impressive range, serving heavy and varying pace.
But she knows the draw has tightened, and Mertens stands as her toughest test yet in her quest for her first Wimbledon title. Still, with early round-exits for Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Jasmine Paolini, the trophy feels more within reach than ever for Sabalenka.
Mertens secured a straight-sets upset of Elina Svitolina in the third round. The Belgian arrives packed with confidence and grass-court fluency.
Sabalenka vs. Mertens Head-to-Head
Sabalenka holds a lopsided 10‑2 head-to-head edge over Mertens, winning their last nine matches.
Their most recent clash came at Madrid, where Sabalenka prevailed in three sets.
Belgian Elise Mertens hasn’t beaten Sabalenka since early career meetings and now enters their first Centre Court encounter.
Facing the full fury of Sabalenka’s serve and ground game, Mertens will need a near-flawless display — but don’t underestimate her consistency and all-court awareness.
What to Watch
Serve showdowns: Sabalenka’s heavy first serves will test Mertens’ precision; Mertens must stay aggressive on return.
Variety vs. rhythm: Expect Sabalenka to mix power with slice and drop shots; Mertens thrives on pace variation and precise footwork.
Mental composure: Mertens must resist early momentum swings and avoid unraveling under Sabalenka’s intensity.
Prediction
Sabalenka in straight sets. While Mertens has earned her breakthrough into the Round of 16, the depth and power of the top seed should carry her through.
Expect tight games — Sabalenka has had many in the first three rounds — but not enough to slow down the Belarusian’s charge.
How to Watch Sabalenka vs. Mertens
The Aryna Sabalenka–Elise Mertens match is now scheduled to start on Centre Court at approximately 11:00 AM Eastern.
The game airs live on ESPN as part of its whip-around coverage. A dedicated stream is available to ESPN+ subscribers.
Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs. Elise Mertens (24)
Time: Approx. 11:00 AM Eastern
Court: Centre Court
TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app and website, ESPN+, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, FuboTV
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