Coco Gauff vs Elise Mertens Preview & Prediction | 2026 China Open | Round of 16

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Coco Gauff takes on Elise Mertens for a place in the quarter-finals of the China Open. 

Ranking points: WTA 1000

Start date/time: 7 October 2026 at 4:00 am

Venue: National Tennis Center, Beijing, China

Surface: Outdoor hard

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / USA – Tennis Channel

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Tennis Channel

Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Coco Gauff vs Elise Mertens ticket information

Coco Gauff vs Elise Mertens prediction

Coco Gauff ended Sun Xinran’s campaign at the China Open with a win in the third-round. There was controversy in the first set, with Gauff serving to stay in it at 5-4, as she halted play because of a light in the side panels surrounding the court after the 16-year-old appeared to have struck a winner. The point was replayed and won by the two-time Grand Slam champion, who held serve and won the next two games to go in front. She dominated the second set to complete a 7-5 6-1 victory.

Gauff plays Elise Mertens next after the Belgian got past Jelena Ostapenko. Mertens broke on six separate occasions on her way to winning 6-2 3-6 6-3. This is now only the second time she has advanced beyond the third-round of a WTA 1000 event this year.

The world number four dominates the head-to-head, leading 5-0. She should have too much quality for Mertens in the round-of-16.

Coco Gauff vs Elise Mertens tip: Coco Gauff to win 2-0