Canadian Open 2024: Naomi Osaka vs Elise Mertens preview, head-to-head, prediction and pick

Match details

Fixture: Naomi Osaka vs Elise Mertens

Date: August 9, 2024

Tournament: Canadian Open 2024

Round: Second round (Round of 32)

Venue: Toronto, Canada

Category: WTA 1000

Surface: Hard

Prize money: $2,788,468

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | Canada - Sportsnet, TVA Sports | UK - Amazon Prime Video | India - Sony Liv

Naomi Osaka vs Elise Mertens preview

Osaka at the National Bank Open 2024 - Day 2 - Source: Getty

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka will take on Elise Mertens in the second round of the Canadian Open.

After a slow start to the season, Osaka picked up the pace in Doha with a quarterfinal run in the Qatar Open. She continued to build momentum with third round appearances in Indian Wells and Miami and also reached the last 16 in Rome, where she lost to Zheng Qinwen.

The former World No. 1 entered Toronto on the back of early exits in the Paris Olympics and Wimbledon. She steadied the ship with a convincing win against Ons Jabeur in the first round, 6-3, 6-1. Osaka won 76% of her first serve points against Jabeur and never faced a break point against the Tunisian.

Mertens at the National Bank Open - Source: Getty

Elise Mertens, on the contrary, has worked towards finding her form on the singles curcuit this year. She's chalked up 20 wins from 38 matches, including a runner-up finish in the Hobart International. She also reached the quarterfinals of the Linz Open and the Charleston Open, where she lost to Danielle Collins in straight sets.

The Belgain entered Toronto on the back of a first round exit in Washington, at the hands of Emma Raducanu. She set things straight with a solid win against Katie Volynets in the first round, 6-3, 6-1. Mertens won 86% of her first serve points and saved two out of three break points against Volynets.

Naomi Osaka vs Elise Mertens head-to-head

Osaka holds a 4-2 head-to-head advantage against Mertens. She defeated the Belgian most recently in the 2024 Libema Open.

Naomi Osaka vs Elise Mertens odds

Player Name	Moneyline	Handicap Bets	Total Games
Naomi Osaka
Elise Mertens

Odds will be updated when available.

Naomi Osaka vs Elise Mertens prediction

Osaka at the National Bank Open Toronto - Day 2 - Source: Getty

Naomi Osaka had a disappointing week in the Paris Olympics while representing her country Japan. She will be keen to make amends in Toronto and begin her US Open preparations on the right note. The 26-year-old put up a near-perfect perfomance against Jabeur but will need to increase her first serve percentage which was at 44% in the first round.

Mertens, on the contrary, has struggled to enter the second week in her last nine tournaments on tour. Her versatile all-around game and creative shot-making skills could cause problems for Osaka. However, the Belgian will need to work on her defensive game and be patient before making her move.

Considering their sharp start in Toronto, a close contest will be on the cards in the second round. Osaka will have the psychological advantage against Mertens after leading their head-to-head battle convincingly over the years. The Japanese should be able to continue her run and book a ticket to the third round.

Pick: Osaka to win in straight sets.