Elise Mertens vs Jessica Pegula Preview & Prediction | 2025 Italian Open | Third Round

Jessica Pegula will battle Elise Mertens in the third round in Rome.
Ranking points: WTA 1000
Start date/time: Saturday 10th May, 2025: UK – not before 10am / US ET – not before 5am / US PT – not before 2am
Venue: Foro Italico, Rome, Italy
Surface: Outdoor clay
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 Jessica Pegula ticket information
Elise Mertens vs Jessica Pegula prediction
Jessica Pegula will be a big name under threat when she takes on Elise Mertens in Rome.
The American trails 3-1 in the head-to-head with the Belgian, although she did triumph in their last clash at this year’s Australian Open.
Mertens has been in solid form of late, heading back towards the top 20 with her only defeats in her last 14 matches coming against top ten opponents.
The 25th seed needed to dig deep to edge past Suzan Lamens in the first round while Pegula breezed past her fellow American Ashlyn Krueger.
Pegula, who is the third seed in Rome, has lost two of her last four matches after a sizzling run of 11 wins in 12 prior to that.
If the American can regain that sort of form, she should prevail here, but given Mertens won their only encounter on clay to-date at Roland-Garros, you have to say there is good value in backing the underdog here.
Elise Mertens vs Jessica Pegula tip: Over 2.5 sets