WTA250 's-Hertogenbosch: Elena-Gabriela Ruse vs Elise Mertens final analysis
Mertens reached double-digit singles titles a day after saving double-digit match points
Elise Mertens (WTA #24) claimed her 10th career singles title with a 6-3, 7-6 [7:4] triumph over qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse (WTA #80) in the Libéma Open championship match.
This was Mertens’ first title on grass and only became possible after some unbelievable heroics the day before, when the 29-year old Belgian saved 11 (!!) match points during a 2-6, 7-6 [9:7], 6-4 semifinal defeat of second seed and 2-time ‘s-Hertogenbosch champion Ekaterina Alexandrova.
An astonishing feat that tied the WTA Tour record** for most match points saved, first achieved by Zsofia Gubacsi at the 2001 French Open against Tamarine Tanasugarn.
Most match points saved (WTA Tour)
11: Zsofia Gubacsi vs Tamarine Tanasugarn, 2001 Roland Garros R1
11: Elise Mertens vs Ekaterina Alexandrova, 2025 WTA 250 ‘s-Hertogenbosch SF
** Mayar Sherif saved 12 match points versus Jesika Maleckova in Budapest 3 years ago, but that was at WTA 125 level
→ All 11 match points saved by Mertens in the semifinal against Alexandrova
📺 source: WTA Tv
Four unreturned serves featured among Mertens’ saves against Alexandrova.
The Belgian’s serve came to her rescue yet again in the final, this time when she was on the verge of an early double-break deficit. Instead of falling 1-4 behind, Mertens erased 2 break points with accurate deliveries that produced return errors and finished the game with another pair of winning serves.
It was a crucial hold that shifted momentum.