Belgian tennis star Elise Mertens will be working with coach Simon Dahaes until at least the end of the 2022 season. Recently, Mertens split with coach Simon Goffin. A month after splitting with Goffin, Mertens has added Dahaes to her coaching staff.
If everything goes right, Mertens and Dahaes will be collaborating next season as well. “Elise asked me to help her a little until the season finishes,” Dehaes told dh sports. “If everything goes fine, a collaboration next year is envisaged.
The first assessment will be following the US Open.”
Mertens split with Goffin during Wimbledon
At Wimbledon, Mertens reached the last-16 before losing to Ons Jabeur. In the Wimbledon women’s doubles event, Mertens ended runner up with Zhang Shuai.
Before the Wimbledon doubles final, Mertens announced her decision to part ways with Goffin. “I want to inform you that my collaboration with my coach Simon Goffin has come to an end. I’m very grateful for his support and advice, but our different views on how to become a better player have proven to be too challenging.
I wish Simon all the best and I’m sure he will find a new challenge very soon,” Mertens announced during Wimbledon. Mertens, a former world No. 12, hasn’t won any singles titles this season. In the doubles competition, Mertens has had far more success this year.
This season, Mertens has made six doubles finals but won only one. On the WTA doubles rankings list, Mertens is the fourth-ranked player. Mertens is certainly happy about her doubles success but her primary focus is still on her singles career.
This week in Cincinnati, Mertens is putting on a solid run. After beating Anhelina Kalinina in the first round, Mertens ousted 2021 Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova. It remains to be seen if Mertens can rediscover her old singles form under the guidance of new coach Dehaes.
