Kudermetova and Mertens forge second Finals triumph from reunion
A two-year doubles hiatus tested Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens, but their April reunion ignited a surge through elite clay finals and into Riyadh's decisive hard-court showdown, where they dismantled seasoned rivals for lasting glory.
In the electric hum of Riyadh's King Saud University Indoor Arena, Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens claimed their second WTA Finals title, overpowering Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani 7-6(4), 6-1 in one hour and 37 minutes. The indoor hard courts, with their sharp bounce and low slices gripping the surface, amplified the duo's aggressive returns and net rushes, turning the match into a showcase of rebuilt synergy. This victory, echoing their 2022 triumph in Fort Worth, silenced doubts about their partnership's revival amid a season of high-stakes doubles.
Reuniting with renewed fire
After pausing their doubles collaboration through 2023 and 2024 to chase singles pursuits, Kudermetova and Mertens linked up again in late April, diving into the clay swing with immediate impact. They stormed to finals at consecutive WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, where sliding rallies on the red dirt honed their one-two combinations—Mertens poaching at the net while Kudermetova fired inside-out forehands to stretch opponents wide. Those deep runs rebuilt their tactical rhythm, easing the mental weight of separation and propelling them as the No. 4 seed into the year-end championships despite fewer matches than rivals.
The Belgian-Russian pair's efficiency shone through, as their burst of form in those clay battles vaulted them up the rankings, transforming initial uncertainty into a confident charge toward Riyadh. Crowd energy in the Italian capitals had already hinted at their potential, with vocal support fueling comebacks in tight sets. By the time they arrived in Saudi Arabia, the hiatus felt like distant history, replaced by a hunger sharpened on slower surfaces.
Dominating under finals lights
Entering the WTA Finals, the pressure cooker of round-robin play demanded quick adaptations to the faster indoor hard courts, where pace rewarded bold crosscourt patterns and down-the-line surprises. Against Babos and Stefani, a three-time champion duo known for explosive volleys, Mertens and Kudermetova neutralized serves with deep returns and low underspin, forcing errors in the first-set tiebreak that they clinched 7-4 after a nervy exchange. The arena's spotlights cast long shadows on every pivot, but their focus held, with the Hungarian-Brazilian pair's unforced mistakes mounting under sustained pressure.
In the second set, the tandem shifted gears, breaking serve twice through precise 1–2 punches that pulled Stefani off the baseline before Kudermetova's backhand winners pierced the gaps. The hard-court tempo suited their strengths, allowing Mertens' steady lobs to pin opponents deep while the Russian's flat drives controlled the points. As the scoreline widened to 6-1, the crowd's rising cheers blended with the thud of balls, marking a rout that highlighted their tactical edge over a fatigued opposition.
Legacy built on resilient bonds
This win elevated Kudermetova and Mertens as the 22nd and 23rd players to lift the Martina Navratilova Trophy multiple times, a feat rooted in the psychological reset of their reunion. Their journey from clay-court finals to hard-court supremacy underscores how mental fortitude can reignite partnerships, with the duo's embrace amid falling confetti signaling deeper trust. Looking to 2026, this momentum positions them for prime seedings in majors, where varied surfaces will test their evolving game once more, promising fresh chapters in doubles dominance.
