Clinical Mertens crushes Bartunkova to seal historic 16th major second week

Elise Mertens defeated Nikola Bartunkova 6-0, 6-4 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time since 2022. The 30-year-old Belgian, seeded No 21, produced a masterclass in efficiency on Saturday, needing just over an hour to dismantle one of the tournament’s most dangerous giant-killers.

For Mertens, a former semi-finalist in Melbourne, the victory marks a significant milestone as her 16th career entry into the second week of a Major – an enormous achievement that cements her status as one of the most consistent performers on the modern tour.

Bartunkova’s Historic Resistance Meets Mertens’ Experience

The storyline entering the match focused heavily on Nikola Bartunkova, the 19-year-old Czech world No 126. Bartunkova had become the first player in the Open Era to concede a 6-0 set in three consecutive matches of the same Grand Slam tournament, having dropped “bagels” in her previous upsets over Daria Kasatkina and No 10 seed Belinda Bencic. Mertens ensured that unwanted record continued, storming through the opening set 6-0 in just 24 minutes.

Despite the lopsided start, Bartunkova’s background as a 2023 Wimbledon junior finalist and her recent surge from outside the top 400 suggested a fightback was imminent. The teenager, who has overcome a difficult 2024 to post a 6-1 record in 2026, finally found her range in the second set.

However, Mertens remained unfazed by the Czech’s variety. The Belgian’s path to this stage has been defined by such professional displays, having already dispatched Moyuka Uchijima 6-3, 6-1 and Lanlana Tararudee 7-5, 6-1 in the earlier rounds.

A Career Milestone and a Heavyweight Fourth Round

With this victory, Mertens’ Grand Slam consistency is now numerically elite. Her 16 second-week appearances are perfectly distributed across the calendar: five in Melbourne, five at the US Open, and three apiece at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon. This fifth Australian Open Round of 16 appearance proves that the veteran still has the physical tools to compete with the tour’s rising stars, moving her 2026 season record to an impressive 6-1.

“Tennis is a sport that you can improve every day, Mertens reacted ion court. The work never stops. It’s never ending. That’s a good thing. To inspire the little kids would be nice too. Also thanks to my team for being there in and out. I want to congratulate you for getting back in the top 20 at the end of the year…That was definitely a huge goal. I’m very happy I achieved that. Trying to be more aggressive as women’s tennis is evolving.”

The Belgian now turns her attention to a formidable fourth-round challenge. She awaits the winner of the high-octane clash between the No 5 seed Elena Rybakina and Czech prospect Tereza Valentova. If Rybakina prevails, it will set up a blockbuster meeting between two of the cleanest ball-strikers in the game. For now, Mertens can celebrate a week where she has efficiently navigated a tricky section of the draw, ending the miraculous run of a record-breaking teenager to reclaim her spot among the final sixteen in Melbourne.