Leylah Fernandez vs Elise Mertens Prediction & Betting Tips - Japan Women's Open

Prediction published on 28/10/2026, 07:09  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 28/10/2026 at 10:20 in Tennis Predictions

Both of these players had comfortable first round victories in the Toray Pan Pacific Open. Fifth seed Elise Mertens has a tough match in round two of this outdoor hard court tournament. The Belgian faces unseeded Leylah Annie Fernandez who is  in good form and recently beat her. Our prediction is Fernandez wins.tens has been in good form on outdoor hard courts this year with one title and a recent semi-final. Our prediction is that it will be Mertens who wins.

The winner will be taking on either top seed Elena Rybakina or Yulia Putintseva in the quarter-finals.

Elise Mertens is the world number 14, nine places above her opponent. The Belgian has won 22 of her 35 outdoor hard court matches played in 2026. The Monterrey title was won and a semi-final recently reached in Beijing.  However, before her first round win over Moyuka Uchijima, Mertens had lost her last three matches.

That includes a three-set loss to Fernandez in Ningbo on October 19.

Leylah Annie Fernandez defeated Himeno Sakatsume in straight sets in round one. The Canadian is in good form and in her most recent tournament she made it to the final in Ningbo, losing to Elena Rybakina. Fernandez has won seven of her last nine matches.