Elise Mertens stuns Iga Swiatek at China Open 2026 to reach semifinal

Elise Mertens, ranked 19th globally, pulled off a major upset at the China Open 2026, defeating Poland's Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals. The 30-year-old Belgian clinched victory in one hour and 50 minutes to secure her place in the tournament's last four.

Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, was unable to contain Mertens' aggressive play throughout the match. The result marks a significant achievement for Mertens, who advances to her third WTA 1000 semifinal and her first since 2021.

Mertens will look to build on this momentum as she prepares for her semifinal matchup at the prestigious China Open tournament.