Paula Badosa and Elise Mertens will meet on Tuesday in a WTA singles match for the first time, in the round of 32 at the Dubai Championship.
In their openers this weekend, Badosa ousted New Zealand's Lulu Sun 6-3 6-4, while the Belgian collected a 6-2 6-2 victory over Leylah Fernandez.
Match preview
© Imago
The second tournament for Paula Badosa since her semi-final appearance at the Australian Open began positively, with the Spaniard winning 87% of her first serves on Sunday.
Errors still crept up repeatedly as she hit six double faults, but she managed to recover thanks to some strong numbers on her second serve, winning 72% of them throughout the match.
As a result, she advanced a step further than a year ago at the Dubai Championship when the Spaniard was forced to retire against Sun in the opening set, trailing 4-6.
A victory on Tuesday would put her into the round of 16 of a WTA singles event for a third consecutive time, while she has not been ousted at this stage of a competition since Elina Avanesyan claimed a 3-6 6-1 2-6 triumph against her at the Brisbane International.
So far this year, Badosa has won 67.2% of her first serves overall and 70.7% of her service games, which has compensated for her hitting 36 double faults.
When break point opportunities have come her way in 2025, the 27-year-old has converted 43.2% of those chances while saving 58% of her break points.
© Imago
In her opening match on Sunday, Mertens barely broke a sweat, hitting six aces against the Canadian in a comfortable straight-sets victory.
After a disappointing round of 64 exit at the Australian Open in January, she bounced back brilliantly in her next singles event, capturing the Singapore Open by defeating Ann Li in the final (6-1 6-4).
That was her second tournament final appearance in her last three singles events on tour, with the Belgian suffering a three-sets defeat to American McCartney Kessler at the Hobart International (4-6 6-3 0-6).
Not since the China Open in the fall has Mertens lost a round of 32 singles affair, with Spaniard Cristina Bucsa getting the better of her on that day 6-4 2-6 2-6.
An Australian Open semi-finalist in 2018, the Belgian has got by this year with a strong opening serve, winning 70.7% of her first serves thus far.
Mertens has been able to save 60.3% of her break points in 2025 while also converting 52.9% of her break point opportunities so far this year.
Tournament so far
Paula Badosa:
Round of 64: vs. Lulu Sun 6-3 6-4
Elise Mertens:
Round of 64: Leylah Fernandez 6-2 6-2
We say: Badosa to win in three sets
Both women can make a deep run in this competition, but we believe Badosa's consistency and matches against top-class players in recent Grand Slams will serve her well.
Joel Lefevre
