Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elise Mertens Wimbledon Round of 16 Preview – Who Breaks Through for a Spot in the Quarterfinals?

Sabalenka aims to extend her dominance as Mertens looks for a breakthrough in their 13th career meeting at Wimbledon 2025.

Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

Three-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka continues her Wimbledon title charge as she takes on the 23rd-ranked Elise Mertens in the Round of 16. Set for Sunday, July 6, this showdown brings together two familiar foes with a long history, though recent results have been heavily tilted in Sabalenka’s favor. With a quarterfinal spot on the line, can Mertens finally flip the script?

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Emma Raducanu's third-round #Wimbledon defeat by Aryna Sabalenka attracted a peak TV audience of five million – the third-highest peak for a non-final match in the past four years 📊🤩 pic.twitter.com/CPsrCakXS3
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 5, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka Form Description

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has been one of the standout performers of 2025, winning 42 of her 50 matches prior to Wimbledon. She’s claimed titles in Brisbane, Madrid, and Miami, the latter two at the WTA 1000 level, and reached the finals in Melbourne, Roland Garros, Indian Wells, and Stuttgart.

Though she suffered early exits in Doha and Dubai, Sabalenka has otherwise shown remarkable consistency, with semifinal runs in Berlin and a quarterfinal in Rome adding to her strong resume. Her aggressive game has delivered 171 aces, a 76% service hold rate, and a 48.1% break point conversion, making her a threat on every surface, including grass.

Aryna Sabalenka becomes the first woman to win both Miami and Madrid in the same season since 2013.

The last to do it… Serena Williams.

Huge achievement. pic.twitter.com/bJ8HfNfhdo
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 3, 2025

Elise Mertens Form Description

Elise Mertens has had a mixed 2025 season, combining title runs in Singapore and Libema with several early-round exits. Her wins in those finals, over Ann Li and Elena Ruse in straight sets, respectively, highlighted her clean baseline play and grass-court adaptability. She also opened the year with a runner-up finish in Hobart, while her Stuttgart quarterfinal remains another key highlight.

Though consistency has been a challenge, Mertens’ numbers remain solid. In 39 matches, she has fired 159 aces, won 69.6% of first serves, and posted a 44.7% return win point rate. Her 46.2% break point conversion underscores her ability to capitalize when chances come her way.

That’s Elise Mertens’ FIFTEENTH Grand Slam second week, and she’s not even 30 yet!

What a great underrated career 👏 pic.twitter.com/uBKQlX795O
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) July 4, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka or Elise Mertens – Who Has an Edge in the Recent Encounters?

Sabalenka holds a commanding 10-2 head-to-head lead over Mertens, having won their last nine meetings dating back to 2019. During that streak, the Belarusian has dropped just two sets, once in Zhuhai (2019) and again in Madrid earlier this year.

Mertens’ only two wins came back in 2018, first in Lugano and then in Montreal, but she’s struggled to keep pace with Sabalenka’s power game ever since. Given the one-sided history, the edge clearly lies with the world No. 1.

2 – Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka are the only two players able to reach the Fourth Round at each of the last four Women’s Singles Grand Slam events (since US Open 2024). Dualism.#WIMBLEDON | @Wimbledon @WTA pic.twitter.com/pPBQk2pj2y
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) July 5, 2025

What Time Does the Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elise Mertens Match Start?

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elise Mertens will begin at 9:40 A.M. ET on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London.

Aryna Sabalenka after beating Raducanu at Wimbledon

“Wow. What an atmosphere. My ears are still hurting. It was super loud. Every time you were cheering her up I was telling myself, ‘Just pretend they’re cheering for you’” 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/nx73EQIKsJ
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 4, 2025

Where To Watch Player Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elise Mertens?

The match will be televised live on ESPN in the United States. Fans can also stream it online via DirecTV, fuboTV, and Sling TV, all of which offer live coverage of Wimbledon 2025.

Mandatory Image Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

Aryna Sabalenka

Elise Mertens

Wimbledon 2025

Rudra Dubey

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.