WTA Hertogenbosch Final
Ruse G. vs Mertens E.
🧠 Form & Context
Elena-Gabriela Ruse
🔥 Perfect Grass Swing: A spotless 6-0 record this week, dispatching Andreescu and Cocciaretto en route to her first Tour-level final.
🛠️ Front-Foot Aggression: Likes to take the ball early and finish at net—style translates well to slick lawns.
💪 Confidence Surge: 23-9 season mark already exceeds her 2024 win total; saved 8/10 break points in the semi, showing new-found resilience.
🚧 H2H Hurdle: Trails Mertens 0-3, never taking more than one set. All prior meetings were on slower courts.
🎯 Career Milestone: Still hunting a maiden WTA title—pressure and nerves could surface in the biggest match of her career.
Elise Mertens
🦉 Veteran Composure: Nine-time WTA champion with 25 career finals; thrives in business end of 250 events.
🌱 Quietly Efficient on Grass: Now 4-0 this week, steam-rolling Sakkari and rallying past Alexandrova in three. 11-1 in grass sets played.
🏗️ Rounded Skill-Set: Compact backhand return and reliable slice give her margin on low bounce; elite doubles instincts polished at net.
📈 Trending Up: Title in Singapore, Rome 3R win over Pegula—2025 form more solid than headline results suggest.
🧠 Mental Edge: Won the last three meetings over Ruse without facing a break point in the final set of any of them.
