WTA Madrid Open 2021: Simona Halep vs Elise Mertens-Preview, Head to Head and Prediction

Simona Halep will take on Elise Mertens in the third round of the Madrid Open 2021. Halep is currently the World no.3 on the WTA rankings and Mertens  is the World no.16. 

Match Details

• Tournament: WTA Madrid Open 2021
• Match: Simona Halep vs Elise Mertens
• Round: Third-round
• Date: 4th May, 2021
• PrizeMoney: €34,048
• Venue: Madrid, Spain 
• Surface: Clay Court

Simona Halep vs Elise Mertens: Match Preview

Halep has been troubled by a shoulder injury this season. That has meant that she has participated in only a handful of tournaments this year and more importantly won zero tournaments this year. Before the Madrid Open, she participated in the Stuttgart Open where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the Semi-finals.

In her opening round encounter, at the Madrid Open, she had defeated Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo. Leading 6-0 5-2 at one point, Halep had to beat a late surge by Tormo to win 6-0 7-5. In the second round match against China’s Zheng Saisai, the World no.3 did not have any such problems. She won in straight sets 6-0 6-4. Halep is into the third round of the competition now. In the third round she will face Elise Mertens of Belgium.

Mertens who is a Grand Slam winner in Doubles tennis has slowly but steadily improved her game in singles as well. Last month she reached the Finals of the Istanbul Cup. She lost the Final to Sorana Cirstea in straight sets. Here, she defeated Shuai Zhang 6-3 6-3 in the first round, and got the better of Elena Rybakina 7-6  7-5 in the second. 

Simona Halep vs Elise Mertens: Head-to-Head

The World no.3 holds a 4-1 lead on the head to head over Mertens. The last encounter between the two was in the Finals of the Prague Open which Halep won 6-2 7-5. 

Simona Halep vs Elise Mertens: Prediction

On clay the only player ahead of Simona Halep is Ash Barty. Apart from that one matchup, Halep has to be the favourite no matter who she is up against. Now that her shoulder is looking good again, Halep is one of the favourites for the title. Mertens has power and can take advantage of any lapses, so Halep has to guard against that. 

Match Prediction: Simona Halep will beat Elise Mertens in three sets. 

Also Read: ‘I am on clay court, feeling better, and playing close to my best tennis’: Simona Halep