Coco Gauff will face Elise Mertens in the third round of the Dubai Tennis Championships. The American is one of the favorites to win in Dubai in the absence of Aryna Sabalenka and Iga ÅšwiÄ…tek. But Mertens also appears to be in strong form at the moment and could pose a threat to the world No. 4 Â on Wednesday.
Coco Gauff vs Elise Mertens Match Details
Date: Feb. 18, 2026
Tournament: Dubai Tennis Championships 2026
Round: Round of 16
Venue: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Dubai, UAE
Surface: Outdoor hard
Category: WTA 1000
Live Telecast: Tennis Channel, Sky Sports, TSN, TVA
Gauff vs Mertens Head-to-Head
Gauff has a stellar head-to-head record against Mertens, having not lost to her in any of their four meetings so far. The last time they met was at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open, with the American coming out on top in straight sets.
The 21-year-old will be the favorite to come out on top again when the two meet on Wednesday. Gauff enjoyed a comfortable 6-4, 6-4 win over Anna Kalinskaya in the second round after receiving a first-round bye.
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However, she hasn’t had the best start to 2026. Gauff was beaten in the first round in Qatar and also lost to Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
On the other hand, Mertens is enjoying a strong 2026 so far. In addition to her women’s doubles triumph at the Australian Open, she also made the fourth round in singles before losing to eventual champion Elena Rybakina at the Grand Slam.
At the Qatar Open, Mertens was beaten in the second round by Daria Kasatkina. However, the 30-year-old has looked solid so far in Dubai, already pulling off an upset with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Gauff’s compatriot, Emma Navarro.
Gauff vs Mertens Prediction
Mertens has made immense strides in her serve since the turn of the year, winning 76.2% of her service games and 74% of her first-serve points. She has also hit 47 aces already this year and ranks in the Top 10 on the WTA Tour for the statistic.
Gauff, on the other hand, has struggled with her serve, recording 67 double faults in 11 matches. She made 12 double faults and 33 unforced errors in her first-round win over Kalinskaya and will need to deliver a much-improved performance if she is to see off the challenge of Mertens.
Despite her inconsistent recent performances, Gauff remains one of the top players on the tour with a strong return game and the ability to win the big points. While the Belgian is more than capable of delivering a surprise, Gauff’s experience and world-class quality, especially in defense, should help her get over the line in this one.
Pick – Gauff to win in three sets
