Elena Rybakina vs Elise Mertens Preview & Prediction | 2025 Cincinnati Open | Third Round
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Two seeds collide in the third round at Cincinnati as Elena Rybakina takes on Elise Mertens.
Ranking points: WTA 1000
Start date/time:
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, USA
Surface: Outdoor hard
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / US – Tennis Channel
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Tennis Channel
Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Elena Rybakina vs Elise Mertens ticket information
Elena Rybakina vs Elise Mertens prediction
Ninth seed Elena Rybakina kicked off her Cincinnati Open campaign with a come-from-behind win over Renata Zarazua. After losing the first set to the Mexican, Rybakina bagelled her opponent in the second set before clinching the decider 7-5.
The world number ten enjoyed a solid run in Canada last week where she lost to eventual champion Victoria Mboko in the semi-finals, and having also made the last four in the Washington Open before that, will be expecting to go deep once again.
Elise Mertens also had to dig deep in the second round. Like Rybakina, she also lost the first set but ground out the final two sets 7-6 (7-3) and 7-5 to progress.
A former semi-finalist in Cincinnati, 19th-seed Mertens is aiming to go beyond the third round at this event for the first time since 2020.
Rybakina dominates the head-to-head between the pair, winning five of their six contests and never losing on hard courts. Indeed, she recorded a straight-sets win over the Belgian at the same stage of this tournament in 2021, and a repeat outcome would not be a surprise.
Elena Rybakina vs Elise Mertens tip: Elena Rybakina to win 2-0
