
It is amazing how, despite different tournaments and random draws, players often compete against the same opponents. That is especially true for World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who will play Elise Mertens in the Round of 32 at the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday. The last time they played was Saturday, April 19, in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix quarterfinals.
Sabalenka and Mertens know each other well beyond these recent meetings. They used to be doubles partners and won two Grand Slams together: the 2019 US Open and the 2021 Australian Open. Sabalenka halted the doubles partnership on friendly terms to focus her time and energy on singles. It worked out well for her, winning three Grand Slam singles titles (2023 Australian Open, 2024 Australian Open, 2024 US Open) since making that decision.