Elena Gabriela Ruse defeated defending champion Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-3 in the second round of the Libema Open on Thursday.
The Romanian player controlled the match from the start on the grass courts. She broke Mertens early in both sets and maintained her advantage to move into the quarterfinals.
Mertens, the Belgian third seed who won the title here in 2025, struggled to find her rhythm and could not defend her crown in this match.
Ruse’s straight sets win marks a strong start to her campaign at the WTA 250 event. She will face her next opponent in the quarterfinals later this week.