1:40 p.m
T. Maria – E. Mertens: 2:3
It is very noticeable that Tatjana Maria keeps finding her way to the net and predominantly gets her points from there. The German has big problems from the baseline. However, she seems to recognize this, so she is not deviating from her match plan for the time being. Despite the high risk, she was able to win four out of five rallies and thus held her first service game.
1:35 p.m
T. Maria – E. Mertens: 1:3
After the actors share the first two points, Elise Mertens takes over the reins. She lets her opponent run and is able to safely place a forehand smash in the field at the end. Then she stays on the trigger and forces a mistake. When the score is 40:15 there is a duel at the net in which Tatjana Maria puts a forehand into the double court and the service game ends.
13:32
T. Maria – E. Mertens: 1:2
Both Tatjana Maria and Elise Mertens miss a chance to score a point at the net. The Belgian then gets stuck on the edge of the net with a forehand, so that the felt ball bounces back to her own side. However, Mertens compensated with praise for the advanced Maria. As the game progresses, the German can’t control a backhand before she makes a double fault. This means the third break in the third game!
13:29
T. Maria – E. Mertens: 1:1
Elise Mertens also knows how to get the first point on her own serve. With a serve-and-volley variation, she gives her opponent no chance. However, the Belgian then slipped a forehand before a double fault followed shortly afterwards. At 15:30, the 30-year-old wants too much and puts a backhand behind the court from half court. Nevertheless, Mertens does not deviate from her match plan and so there is the next trip to the net. Tatjana Maria tries a lob that flies clearly behind the baseline. The German then takes advantage of the second break chance because the Belgian misses a backhand.
13:24
T. Maria – E. Mertens: 0:1
Tatjana Maria starts serving. She immediately looks for the way to the net and is countered coldly on the first two trips. Elise Mertens puts the ball safely into the field. At 0:30 there is a backhand winner, which creates three break chances. With another winner, this time from the forehand, Mertens gets the break without winning a point.
1:20 p.m
Mertens is the favorite
The duel between Tatjana Maria and Elise Mertens has already taken place twice on the WTA tour. The Belgian left the field as the winner both in Stuttgart in 2024 and in Singapore last year. In both cases it was 2-1 for the 30-year-old. However, the player seeded number 23 won each set very confidently, so she will also go into today’s match as the favorite.
1:15 p.m
Konstante Mertens wants to go to round two
In contrast to the German player, Elise Mertens has been much more consistent so far this season. The Belgian has not had to accept an opening defeat since the beginning of the year, although her tournament victories were more of a wish. In preparation for the Roland Garros tournament, she was eliminated in the second round in Stuttgart and Madrid, while in Rome she made it at least to the round of 16. Accordingly, the 30-year-old’s form can also be improved.
1:15 p.m
Maria is getting into shape
Tatjana Maria survived a rather difficult spring. In the first third of the season, almost nothing worked for the 38-year-old, so she had to cope with many first-round defeats. However, the German seems to have found her form again shortly before the start of the French Open. At the clay court tournament in Rouen she was able to reach the semi-finals, where she failed against the number one seeded Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk. Maria also survived at least the first match in Rome and Rabat.
13:10
Welcome
Following the game between Alex de Minaur and Toby Samuel, Tatjana Maria and Elise Mertens will also start at the French Open 2026. The duel for 14th place will take place in around 15 minutes.
