Latest news with #ElenaGabrielaRuse
Reuters
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Mertens beats Ruse to win Den Bosch title
June 15 (Reuters) - Belgian third seed Elise Mertens beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3 7-6(4) in the final of the Libema Open in Den Bosch on Sunday to claim her second WTA Tour title of the year, adding to her victory in the Singapore Tennis Open in February. The win earned Mertens her tenth WTA singles title and first on grass, though she has won the Wimbledon women's doubles title in 2021, while also extending her winning head-to-head record against Ruse to 4-0. "It's been an incredible week," said Mertens, who had to dig deep to save 11 match points and overcome two-times winner Ekaterina Alexandrova in Saturday's semi-final. "I mean yesterday I had 11 match points against me. I managed to still win that match. It's tennis, anything can happen. So I'm very proud that I took that chance yesterday and today." Mertens trailed 3-1 in the first set after being put under early pressure by the Romanian qualifier. The Belgian recovered from her shaky start and saved two break points to secure a crucial hold in the fifth game, which turned the tide of the contest. The set was brought back on serve at 3-3 after Ruse double-faulted twice, and Mertens quickly reeled off three more games to clinch the opener, with Ruse taking a lengthy medical timeout between the sets and having her thigh strapped. The pair traded breaks halfway through the second set and Ruse was able to earn two set points at 5-4, but Mertens showed great resilience to hold serve and force a tiebreaker, which she powered through with little trouble. "First of all, I would like to congratulate Elise. You beat me every time, so what can I say," said Ruse, who committed seven double faults in the match. "I'm really sad and angry, but I will try next time... I'm very proud of myself. I didn't expect to be in the final here. It's such a nice tournament." In the men's final later on Sunday, Canadian Gabriel Diallo takes on Belgium's Zizou Bergs.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Belgium tennis star Elise Mertens makes astonishing comeback
Elise Mertens of Belgium celebrates after winning a grass court tennis match at the 2025 Libéma Open the Netherlands. Photo: MARLEEN FOUCHIER Wins on the WTA tennis tour don't get more gutsy than a semi-final victory for Belgian third seed Elise Mertens at Den Bosch in the Netherlands overnight. Mertens saved 11 match points yet still overcame two-times winner Ekaterina Alexandrova 2-6 7-6(7) 6-4 to reach the Libema Open final, where she will face qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse. According to the WTA Tour, that's the most match points survived in a main draw women's match this decade. "I didn't even know it was 11, after one or two I lost count," Mertens said. "It was a difficult match. I think she started really well, and it was 6-2, 5-3 for her. I just stayed with my head in the game and gave everything I had." Mertens found herself 5-3 down in the second set after losing the first but battled back to force a tie-break before seeing off the Russian second seed who was aiming to win her third title having triumphed in 2022 and 2023. Alexandrova won their only previous meeting in Den Bosch, in 2019, and has reached at least the quarter-finals of the last five editions, but Mertens now has the chance to win a second title this year, after her Singapore triumph in February. Standing in Mertens' way will be Romanian Ruse who recovered from losing the first set to defeat Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto 2-6 6-4 6-3. Mertens has won all three previous meetings with Ruse. The men's final will see Canada's Gabriel Diallo meeting Belgium's Zizou Bergs. - Reuters
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Battling Mertens saves 11 match points to reach Den Bosch final
'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, Netherlands, June 14 (Reuters) - Belgian third seed Elise Mertens dug deep to save 11 match points and overcame two-time winner Ekaterina Alexandrova 2-6 7-6(7) 6-4 to reach the Libema Open final in Den Bosch on Saturday, where she will face Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Mertens, having lost the opening set, found herself 5-3 down in the second but battled back to force a tiebreak before seeing off the Russian second seed, with Alexandrova aiming to win her third title having triumphed in 2022 and 2023. "I didn't even know it was 11, after one or two I lost count," Mertens said. "I was very focused on the game, which, of course, I like that about me, that I just keep going. "It was a difficult match, I think she started really well, and it was 6-2, 5-3 for her. I just stayed with my head in the game and gave everything I had." Alexandrova won their only previous meeting in Den Bosch, back in 2019, and has reached at least the quarter-finals of the last five editions, but Mertens now has the chance to win a second title this year, after her Singapore triumph in February. Standing in Mertens' way will be Romanian qualifier Ruse who recovered from losing the first set to defeat Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto 2-6 6-4 6-3. Mertens has won all three previous meetings with Ruse.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mertens saves 11 match points in win over Alexandrova at Libema Open
's-HERTOGENBOSCH, Netherlands (AP) — Belgian tennis player Elise Mertens saved 11 match points before beating Ekaterina Alexandrova to reach the final of the Libema Open on Saturday. The WTA said that was the most match points saved in a main draw women's match this decade. Advertisement After repeatedly fending off defeat, the 20th-ranked Mertens won 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 on the grass court in 's-Hertogenbosch. 'I didn't even know it was 11, after one or two I lost count,' the third-seeded Mertens said. 'I was very focused on the game, which, of course, I like that about me, that I just keep going.' Mertens will face qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania in the final. ___ AP tennis:
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Mertens saves 11 match points in win over Alexandrova at Libema Open
's-HERTOGENBOSCH, Netherlands (AP) — Belgian tennis player Elise Mertens saved 11 match points before beating Ekaterina Alexandrova to reach the final of the Libema Open on Saturday. The WTA said that was the most match points saved in a main draw women's match this decade. After repeatedly fending off defeat, the 20th-ranked Mertens won 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 on the grass court in 's-Hertogenbosch. 'I didn't even know it was 11, after one or two I lost count,' the third-seeded Mertens said. 'I was very focused on the game, which, of course, I like that about me, that I just keep going.' Mertens will face qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania in the final. ___ AP tennis:
