Elise Mertens delivered a stunning performance at the 2026 China Open, defeating the No. 8 seed Iga Świątek in straight sets, 7-6(0), 6-3, during their quarterfinal clash in Beijing. This victory marked Mertens’s first triumph over Świątek in their three WTA encounters and advanced her to the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time in five years.
From the outset, Mertens asserted control, winning an impressive 87% of her first-serve points and never facing a break point throughout the match. The closely contested first set culminated in a dominant tiebreak, where Mertens swept Świątek 7-0, becoming the first player to shut out the Polish star in a tiebreak at the professional level. Capitalizing on this momentum, she secured an early break in the second set and sealed the match in one hour and 50 minutes.
Confident Tiebreak Earns Mertens the Win in Beijing
Mertens’s path to this quarterfinal victory has been marked by significant wins over two Grand Slam champions in successive rounds: Jelena Ostapenko and Coco Gauff. This achievement represents the first time since 2019 that she has overcome multiple major titleholders in a single tournament, underscoring her strong form in Beijing.
Reflecting on her progressing performance, Mertens remarked, “Sometimes you just grow into a tournament,” highlighting her development as the event has unfolded.
Looking ahead, Mertens is set to face local favorite Qinwen Zheng in the semifinal on Saturday, with a coveted spot in the WTA 1000 final at stake.