Doubles partner change for Mertens: the Belgian will play with Zhang Shuai in 2026

After a successful 2025 season with Wimbledon and the WTA Finals, Elise Mertens must turn the page: Veronika Kudermetova is putting doubles on hold. But the Belgian has already found her new ally, whom she already knows very well.

Adrien Guyot

le 19/12/2025 à 13h51

1 min to read

Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova have established themselves as one of the best doubles pairs in the world in recent months. The Belgian and the Russian even won Wimbledon and the WTA Finals together in 2025. The two women had already triumphed at the Masters in 2022.

But the duo will not continue next year. Indeed, Kudermetova has decided to take a sabbatical year in doubles and dedicate the entire next season to singles.

Mertens will play doubles with Zhang Shuai in 2026

The identity of Kudermetova's replacement is already known. As reported by RTBF, Elise Mertens will be partnered with Chinese player Zhang Shuai. A collaboration that is not new since the two women have already played together.

Mertens and Zhang reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, where they lost to the Czech pair Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova. "I know Shuai well and I've already played with her. We'll see how it goes," Mertens assured the Belgian media in recent hours.

Sources

20e, 1969 points

30e, 1558 points

81e, 843 points

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As we move to the end of this month and also closing out the year I am wishing all of those following me a Merry Christmas and a Happy/Healthy New Year.

Let's make that wish for all 2000 plus players hoping for 5 wins each day. Hoping ŵhen we open the results page to see all green, and no red. And especially NO CANCELED matches.

From me and my rotti JAZ, I bid you all good night, and see you in...

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I love tennis

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why did tennis tonic void predictions on the match between Chwalinska and Huergo at the Quito tournament? The match was played to completion and on time. If TT feels the match is one sided, and of course it was, then don't put it up for prediction. This is getting irritating.

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The finals are here, and we scramble for the best finish. I've been chasing "King" all year and I was able to shrink the spread a little. Skelp is also closing the gap.

Seasons best to all the regulars in our league.

Will you all be back in the new year.?

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Steffi Graf completed a Golden Slam (not just a career Grand Slam) when she was 19. She is the only person to accomplish that, winning the four majors plus Olympic gold the same calendar year.

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