Mertens makes convincing tournament start

Elise Mertens has ensured the first Belgian success this year. The number three seeded player, a regular at Libéma Open, was done with Viktoriya Tomova after just over an hour: 6-4 6-0.

Mertens is entering the tournament for the eighth time and is keen to improve on her quarter-final spot from 2016. The world number 25 is seeded third this week and will play in her next match against former top-three player Maria Sakkari or Dutch Anouk Koevermans.

The traditionally hefty Belgian supporters groups also made themselves heard loudly for Yanina Wickmayer, who qualified for the main tournament.

Notable duel in the first round was the confrontation between the Kudermetova sisters. Eighth-seeded Veronika, finalist of Libéma Open in 2023, proved too strong for her younger sister Polina, 6-3 6-3.