Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals in Riyadh after a dramatic late-night victory over Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend on Friday.
The Belgian-Russian pair triumphed 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 10-6 in a tense semi-final that stretched to one hour and 52 minutes, finishing at 1:30 a.m. local time. They saved a match point in the second-set tiebreak before seizing their first opportunity to clinch victory in the deciding super tiebreak.
It was a gritty performance from the duo, who refused to back down after dropping the opening set. Mertens, renowned for her composure under pressure, kept the team steady as Kudermetova unleashed her trademark power from the baseline to turn the match around.
“I am so happy with the super tiebreak we played. Veronika was unstoppable,” Mertens said afterward, smiling as she acknowledged the Riyadh crowd that had stayed late into the night to cheer them on.
The match’s dramatic turnaround underlined the pair’s chemistry and resilience — qualities that carried them to the WTA Finals title in 2022. Mertens, meanwhile, was also a finalist in 2021 alongside Hsieh Su-wei, making this her third consecutive appearance in the championship match.
Their victory sets up an exciting final against Hungary’s Timea Babos and Brazil’s Luisa Stefani, who overcame Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko and Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in the other semi-final. The final is scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Belgian time.
Mertens and Kudermetova will be chasing their second WTA Finals crown as a team, aiming to cap off the season with another title against the experienced duo of Babos and Stefani. Babos, a four-time WTA Finals champion, brings a wealth of experience, while Stefani’s recent form has made the pair a formidable partnership.
The Riyadh tournament has already delivered high drama and late finishes, but Friday’s semi-final was among the most gripping matches of the week. Both teams displayed exceptional skill and determination, with Siniakova and Townsend combining aggression and finesse to dominate early on.
However, Mertens and Kudermetova’s ability to adapt tactically made the difference. They began to find better rhythm on returns, targeting Siniakova’s serve and exploiting the open court with clever volleys and poise at the net.
With this win, Mertens continues to cement her status as one of the world’s elite doubles players. Her partnership with Kudermetova has proven both powerful and strategic — a combination that could see them lift another prestigious WTA trophy this weekend.
As they prepare for Saturday’s final, Mertens and Kudermetova carry not only momentum but also a sense of unfinished business — eager to reclaim the crown they once wore and reaffirm their place among the sport’s top doubles teams.
