Gabriela Ruse Triumphs Over Irina Begu in All-Romanian Clash at Australian Open
Gabriela Ruse defeated Irina Begu 6-4, 6-0 on Tuesday in the first round of the Australian Open in Melbourne, marking an impressive start to the first Grand Slam of the year, CE Report quotes Agerpres
Ruse, 27, ranked 125th in the WTA standings and a qualifier for the tournament, secured victory after just 1 hour and 19 minutes in her first meeting with Begu, 34, ranked 80th.
The younger Romanian showcased her dominance with 22 winners compared to Begu's 11, while committing fewer unforced errors (14 to 20).
With this win, Ruse earned 200,000 Australian dollars and 110 WTA points. Begu, exiting in the opening round, took home 132,000 dollars and 10 points.
In the second round, Ruse will face an American opponent, either Madison Keys or Ann Li. This marks her second appearance in Melbourne’s main draw, having previously reached the second round in 2022.
Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian also advanced to the second round, while Anca Todoni, Sorana Cirstea, and Irina Begu were eliminated in their opening matches.
