After an unlikely comeback, Belgian Elise Mertens won the title at the Rasmurnier in the Dutch ‘S-Hertogenbosch.
The world rankings 24. Prefered 6: 3, 7: 6 (7: 4) on Sunday against qualifier Elena Gabriela Ruse (Romania). The day before she had had a lot more effort, but proved her nerve strength.
At 2: 6, 7: 6 (7: 4), 6: 4 against Jekaterina Alexandrowa from Russia, Mertens fought off eleven match balls. “I stopped counting after one or two,” she said after the dramatic victory. “It was an incredible journey this week,” she added after the success in the final.
Mertens, who has now won ten WTA tournaments in singles, is known for making themselves against the defeat in the match balls of their opponents. This year she was only one point from the end in the first round of the Australian Open and prevailed. In 2023 at the US Open, she even fended off in two consecutive matches match balls and won.
“I was totally focused on the game, and of course I like that on me that I just keep going,” said Mertens after the match against Alexandrowa. Also in 2021 (Dubai, US Open) and 2022 (Wimbledon) was the comeback queen, who has already won several Grand Slam tournaments in doubles, moved into the next round after match balls.