Belinda Bencic vs Elise Mertens Prediction & Betting Tips - United Cup

Prediction published on 09/01/2026, 06:45  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 09/01/2026 at 07:43 in United Cup Predictions

We'll have first-time United Cup finalists this year. Belgium take on Switzerland in the last four and neither country had previously made it out of their group. Elise Mertens takes on Switzerland's Belinda Bencic in the opening rubber. Time for our match prediction.

Both of these players have won all three of their singles matches in this outdoor hard court team tournament.  Belinda Bencic has also won three mixed doubles matches and will want to maintain her unbeaten run in this semi-final.

Singles wins have come against Leolia Jeanjean, Jasmine Paolini and Solana Sierra, all in straight sets. The Swiss player is 11th in the live rankings but will need to beat Mertens for the first time. The Belgian won their only previous meeting but that was played five years ago.

Elise Mertens is nine places below Bencic in the live ranking list. The Belgian has also made a strong start to 2026 and has had plenty of success down under in recent years, mainly in New Zealand

Her three singles victories have come against Zhu Lin, Victoria Mboko and Barbora Krejcikova, needing three sets in her last two wins. Mertens has a 1-1 mixed doubles record. We tip Bencic to get the win here.