Elise Mertens def. Nikola Bartunkova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 — Monterrey Open 2026 Semifinal

Match recap

Elise Mertens defeated Nikola Bartunkova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the Semifinal of the Monterrey Open 2026.

Through the opening set Mertens had not earned a break point, with Bartunkova winning every first-serve point she played. Broken for 4-2 in the second, the No. 2 seed answered with three straight games on the return, breaking in game 7 for 3-4, game 9 for 5-4 and game 10 for 6-4. The second serve was the difference. Bartunkova won 34 percent of the points behind hers to Mertens's 56, and six double faults did the rest; two more breaks in the third, in game 3 for 2-1 and game 7 for 5-2, closed out a match the winner took by two points, 88 to 86, in 2 hours 16 minutes. A first title on record now sits one win away at Monterrey.

Match stats

Nikola Bartunkova: 7 aces, 47% first serves, 6 double faults, 5/12 break points. Elise Mertens: 3 aces, 62% first serves, 2 double faults, 5/9 break points.

Profiles: Nikola Bartunkova · Elise Mertens — Monterrey Open 2026

Head-to-head

Nikola Bartunkova and Elise Mertens have met 3 times, with Elise Mertens leading the head-to-head 2–1.

• Berlin Tennis Open 2026 R16 — Nikola Bartunkova won 6-1, 6-4
• Australian Open 2026 R32 — Elise Mertens won 6-0, 6-4

Full Nikola Bartunkova vs Elise Mertens head-to-head →