Elise Mertens is about to begin her bid in the draw in Osaka. Last year in Osaka, Mertens had to withdraw in the 2nd round to Kimberly Birrell when the scoreline was 3-6 7-5 4-1 .. In the previous edition of this tournament, she managed to beat Mai Hontama 6-1 6-1.

Draw prediction with head to head records

This is Elise Mertens’s projected draw alongsideherpresumable opposition in Japan Open. Mertens has a winning record (8-7) against the presumable opponents.

R1 – Cristina Bucsa (72) – H2H 1-2
R2 – Alexandra Eala (54) – H2H 1-0
or Tereza Valentova (78) – H2H 0-0
1/4 – Ashlyn Krueger (48) – H2H 1-0
or Olga Danilovic (49) – H2H 0-0
1/2 – Naomi Osaka (16) – H2H 3-4
or Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (40) – H2H 0-0
Fin – Leylah Annie Fernandez (27) – H2H 2-1
or Marie Bouzkova (41) – H2H 0-2
Latest Updated
Draw

R1 – Cristina Bucsa’s rankings and performance.

Head to head 2-1 for Cristina Bucsa

34 - 31win/loss in 2025

Rank
54
High
54
LWWWLWW
Year Total Hard Clay I.hard Grass Carpet
2025 34-31 24-20 2-6 2-1 6-4 0-0
2024 24-29 14-18 8-7 0-0 2-4 0-0
2023 35-30 17-15 7-8 8-3 3-4 0-0
2022 49-31 17-8 15-12 10-6 5-4 2-1
2021 31-27 9-7 9-11 6-6 5-2 2-1
2020 14-13 4-3 8-5 2-5 0-0 0-0
2019 49-21 19-6 8-5 18-6 1-1 3-3
2018 38-19 7-3 21-8 3-3 0-0 7-5

Cristina Bucsa has a 29-28 win-loss record in 2025, 19-17 on hard. During the previous 10 years, Cristina has a 119-81 record on hard (Click here to see full career record). The Spaniard won 6 of her last 10 matches.

Last year in Japan Open Bucsa lost to Lucia Bronzetti in the 1st round 6-3 6-4.

H2H Elise Mertens vs. Cristina Bucsa

This match would represent the 4th time that Elise Mertens and Cristina Bucsa face off. The head to head is 2-1 for Bucsa (see full H2H stats), 2-1 on hard in major tournaments.

R2 – Alexandra Eala’s rankings and performance.

Head to head 1-0 for Elise Mertens

40 - 26win/loss in 2025

Rank
50
High
50
LWLLLLW
Year Total Hard Clay I.hard Grass Carpet
2025 40-26 25-14 2-4 3-3 10-5 0-0
2024 42-31 27-18 3-6 7-4 5-3 0-0
2023 45-23 37-16 0-3 8-4 0-0 0-0
2022 45-20 30-13 0-1 15-6 0-0 0-0
2021 17-13 10-7 5-4 2-2 0-0 0-0
2020 5-4 1-1 4-3 0-0 0-0 0-0
2019 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Alexandra Eala has a 39-23 record in 2025, 24-11 on hard. Regarding the last 7 years, Eala has a 129-66 record on hard (Click here to see full career record). The Filipino won 6 of her last 10 matches.

The Filipino’s most significant achievement of the current year was reaching the final Eastbourne and the Guadalajara.

Last year in Japan Open the Filipino didn’t take part in the competition.

H2H Elise Mertens vs. Alexandra Eala

This would be the 2nd time that Elise Mertens and Alexandra Eala fight against each other. The head to head is 1-0

for Mertens (see full H2H stats), 1-0 on hard in major tournaments.

Yet, Elise Mertens may take on Tereza Valentova. Their head to head is 0-0.

1/4 – Ashlyn Krueger’s rankings and performance.

Head to head 1-0 for Elise Mertens

25 - 27win/loss in 2025

Rank
45
High
29
LLWLLLL
Year Total Hard Clay I.hard Grass Carpet
2025 25-27 18-17 4-5 0-0 3-5 0-0
2024 29-26 19-17 6-6 0-0 4-3 0-0
2023 44-26 26-15 8-6 2-2 8-3 0-0
2022 34-22 23-17 10-4 1-1 0-0 0-0
2021 15-14 10-11 5-2 0-1 0-0 0-0
2020 2-2 1-1 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-0
2019 12-11 12-7 0-4 0-0 0-0 0-0

Ashlyn Krueger has a 25-25 record in 2025, 18-15 on hard. In connection to the previous 7 years, the American has a 109-83 record on hard (Click here

to see full career record). Krueger won 3 of her last 10 matches.

Ashlyn’s most significant result of this current season was getting to the final Abu Dhabi.

Last year in Japan Open the American capitulated to Elina Avanesyan in the 1st round 7-6(1) 6-3.

H2H Elise Mertens vs. Ashlyn Krueger

This match would represent the 2nd time that Elise Mertens and Ashlyn Krueger fight against each other. The head to head is 1-0 for Mertens (see full H2H stats), 1-0 on hard in major tournaments.

However, Elise Mertens could fight against Olga Danilovic. Their head to head record is 0-0.

1/2 – Naomi Osaka’s rankings and performance.

Head to head 4-3 for Naomi Osaka

35 - 15win/loss in 2025

Rank
16
High
1
WWLWLLW
Year Total Hard Clay I.hard Grass Carpet
2025 35-15 24-9 8-3 0-0 3-3 0-0
2024 22-18 13-10 5-5 1-0 3-3 0-0
2023 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
2022 14-9 13-7 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-0
2021 18-6 16-4 2-2 0-0 0-0 0-0
2020 16-3 16-2 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0
2019 40-11 29-7 9-2 1-0 1-2 0-0
2018 43-21 28-9 5-4 4-5 6-3 0-0

Naomi Osaka has a 34-15 win-loss record in 2025, 23-9 on hard. In connection to the previous 2 years, Osaka has a 36-19 record on hard. Naomi won 7 of her last 10 matches.

Osaka’s best result of the season was reaching the final Auckland, the Malo and Montreal.

Last year in Japan Open Naomi didn’t take part in the competition.

H2H Elise Mertens vs. Naomi Osaka

This contest would be 8th time that Elise Mertens and Naomi Osaka play each other. The head to head is 4-3 for Osaka (see full H2H stats), but they are 3-3 on hard in major tournaments.

Nevertheless, Elise Mertens could compete against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Their H2H record is 0-0.

Final – Leylah Annie Fernandez’s rankings and performance.

Head to head 2-1 for Elise Mertens

34 - 25win/loss in 2025

Rank
22
High
13
LWWWLWW
Year Total Hard Clay I.hard Grass Carpet
2025 34-25 28-16 2-5 0-0 4-4 0-0
2024 31-25 18-15 6-6 0-1 7-3 0-0
2023 41-24 28-16 5-6 6-0 2-2 0-0
2022 21-15 12-10 6-4 3-1 0-0 0-0
2021 25-17 19-10 3-5 2-0 1-2 0-0
2020 20-10 17-7 2-2 1-1 0-0 0-0
2019 35-17 23-10 10-5 2-2 0-0 0-0
2018 9-9 4-4 4-4 1-1 0-0 0-0

Leylah Annie Fernandez has a 25-23 record in 2025, 19-14 on hard. In connection to the last 9 years, Annie Fernandez has a 144-90 record on hard (Click here to see full career record). Leylah won 5 of her last 10 matches.

Her best achievement of the year was winning the tournament in Washington where she defeated Anna Kalinskaya in the final 6-1 6-2.

Last year in Japan Open the Canadian didn’t play in this tournament.

H2H Elise Mertens vs. Leylah Annie Fernandez

This match would represent the 4th time that Elise Mertens and Leylah Annie Fernandez face off. The head to head is 2-1 for Mertens (see full H2H stats), 2-1 on hard in major tournaments.

Nevertheless, Elise Mertens could face Marie Bouzkova. Their H2H record is 2-0 for Marie Bouzkova.