Mertens saves 11 match points to beat Alexandrova for place in Rosmalen final

Belgian Elise Mertens saved 11 match points as she beat Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, the second seed, 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 to reach the final of the Libema Open at Autotron Rosmalen on Saturday.

Mertens saved five match points on serve at 4-5, another five at 5-6 and an 11th in the tiebreak before snatching the decider for a place in the final, where she will play either qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse or Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto.

The tally of 11 match points is thought to be the most ever saved in an WTA Tour match and equals the ATP record, when Adriano Panatta saved 11 in beating Kim Warwick in Rome in 1976.

“I didn’t even know it was 11, after one or two I lost count,” Mertens said, quoted by the WTA website. “I was very focused on the game, which, of course, I like that about me, that I just keep going.

“It was a difficult match, I think she started really well, and it was 6-2, 5-3 for her. I just stayed with my head in the game and gave everything I had. Especially in the third set, I felt like, ‘OK, this is maybe my opportunity.’ So I’m very happy I took that chance.”

Ahead of her victory, the Belgian won against Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova (6-4, 6-0), Greek Maria Sakkari (6-3, 6-0) and Chinese lucky loser Yue Yuan (6-0, 6-4).

Alexandrova, ranked No 19, beat Georgian qualifier Mariam Bolkvadze (6-3, 6-4), Anna Blinkova (6-0, 7-5) and No 8 seed Veronika Kudermetova (5-7, 6-4, 6-2) earlier in the tournament.

Rosmalen WTA 250, other semi-final result (Autotron Rosmalen, grass, EUR 239.212):

• Elena-Gabriela Ruse vs. Elisabetta Cocciaretto