Elise Mertens vs Cristina Bucsa Preview & Prediction | 2025 Japan Women’s Open (Kinoshita Group Japan Open) | First Round

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Elise Mertens faces Cristina Bucsa at the Japan Women’s Open.

Ranking points: WTA 250

Start date/time:

Venue: Utsubo Tennis Center, Osaka, Japan

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 Elise Mertens vs Cristina Bucsa ticket information

Elise Mertens vs Cristina Bucsa prediction

Elise Mertens will bid to get back on track against Cristina Bucsa.

The Belgian third seed has only won one of her last four matches and gave Belinda Bencic a walkover last time out in Wuhan.

Bucsa has lost her last two but did put together a succession of wins when she came through qualifying to reach the second round in Beijing. 

This will be their fourth encounter with Bucsa leading the head-to-head 2-1, including a 3-6 7-5 6-3 success at the US Open on their last meeting recently. 

It depends on how fit Mertens is and it may be worth observing a set to see how she is shaping up before parting with your cash. Bucsa has enjoyed the winning formula against the Belgian, but if she is firing we still fancy Elise for this one. 

Elise Mertens vs Cristina Bucsa tip: Elise Mertens to win