Ruse Wins Replay of Last Year’s Final Against Mertens

Elena-Gabriela Ruse has reached the quarterfinals. The Romanian was able to defeat Elise Mertens this time around: 6-3, 6-3.

The second-round match was a replay of last year’s final. That final was won by Mertens, but this time the defending champion was put under significant pressure by Ruse. With aggressive play, the world number 88 gave it her all and never looked back.

Her opponent in the quarterfinals will come from the match between eighth-seeded Barbora Krejcikova and Belgian qualifier Hanne Vandewinkel. That contest follows later this afternoon on court 1.

Zeynep Sonmez also reached the quarterfinals in the morning session. She saw her opponent Anastasia Potapova retire at 6-1, 2-0 in favor of the Turkish player. The fifth seed was ill.

The match between qualifiers Robin Montgomery and Greet Minnen was won by the American on court 5: 6-4, 7-6(4).