Daria Kasatkina secured a straight-sets victory over No. 16 seed Elise Mertens in the second round of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open. The win improves Kasatkina's head-to-head record against the Belgian to 7-2. This marks her first Top 30 victory since May and her first consecutive wins since the US Open.
In a dominant performance, Daria Kasatkina dropped just four games to defeat Elise Mertens during the second round of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open in Doha. The match highlighted Kasatkina's strong rivalry advantage, as she now leads 7-2 against Mertens in encounters dating back to 2015.
This result represents a significant milestone for Kasatkina, who had not achieved consecutive victories since the US Open in 2025. It also signifies her first win over a Top 30-ranked player since Roland Garros in 2025, signaling a potential upturn in her form on the WTA Tour.
Kasatkina advances to the third round of the tournament, continuing her campaign in the Qatar TotalEnergies Open.