WTA Players

Turned pro in 2013...Coached by Robbe Ceyssens, trains at the Kim Clijsters Academy...Previously trained under Belgian Federation until early teens, also spent a year at the Mouratoglou Academy in Paris...Favorite surface is grass, favorite shot is the serve...Began playing tennis at age 4, introduced to game by older sister Lauren, an airline pilot with KLM...First tennis memory is watching Kim Clijsters playing live...Mother is Liliane Barbe (teaches languages and history); father is Guido Mertens (makes furniture for churches)...Was home schooled, enjoyed studying languages...Loves animals and has lots of pets at home, four dogs and a variety of birds (pheasants, peacocks, chickens, cranes)...Speaks English, Dutch/Flemish, and French...short term goal is to end season inside the Top 100, describes qualifying for her first Grand Slam main draw at the 2016 US Open as "fulfilling an important goal."