Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova will not play doubles together in 2026.
The reigning Wimbledon and ATP Finals champions are coming off an outstanding season; however, Kudermetova has told Mertens that she is taking a break.
Dans une interview accordée à @TennisBelgium, Elise Mertens 🇧🇪 indique que sa partenaire en doubles, Veronika Kudermetova 🇷🇺, s’apprête à prendre une année sabbatique !
« Veronika va faire une pause d’un an. Elle ne m’a pas encore donné la raison, mais on peut s’en douter ! ».… pic.twitter.com/TErcyLNywA
— WTA à la UNE (@WTA_UNE) December 31, 2025
Unsubstantiated reports indicate that Kudermetova, 28, is expecting a baby with her husband/coach Sergei Demekhine.
Kudermetova is ranked World No. 30 in singles and is currently on the 2026 Australian Open player list.
No one from Veronika Kudermetova’s team has commented on the situation.
Who Is Elise Mertens Playing With?
Mertens is an established doubles player who has won Grand Slams with Aryna Sabalenka and Hsieh Su-wei.
She is partnering with another reputable doubles player, Shuai Zhang. Zhang, 36, is a two-time Grand Slam champion.
Women’s Doubles Will Be Must-See TV Again In 2026
The unseeded doubles pairings that are expected to play at the 2026 Australian Open are intriguing.
In the mix are American players, Jessica Pegula and McCartney Kessler teaming together, American Caty McNally with Czech doubles legend Barbora Krejcikova, and the young team of American Iva Jovic with the teenage Canadian sensation, Victoria Mboko.
Judging by the AO dubs entry list, there are *many* intriguing unseeded teams who could bust up the draw real quick…
🇺🇸 McNally & Krejcikova 🇨🇿
🇦🇺 Hunter & Joint 🇦🇺
🇺🇸 Pegula & Kessler 🇺🇸
🇺🇸 Jovic & Mboko 🇨🇦
🇯🇵 Shibahara & Zvonareva
🇺🇸 Krawczyk & Gadecki 🇦🇺— Hanlon Walsh (@HanlonWalsh) December 29, 2025
