Belgium's Mertens, ranked No. 32 in the world, posted a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Anastasia Zakharova of Russia. Mertens converted seven of 10 break-point chances and won 69.2% (nine of 13) of her first-serve points and 65.4% (17 of 26) on her second serves.
Antonia Ruzic of Croatia rallied for a 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Argentina's Podoroska. British qualifier Sonay Kartal, ranked No. 151 in the world, ousted Romania's Cristian, ranked No. 74, in a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 battle in two hours and 43 minutes for her third Top 100 win of 2024. Kartal converted 8 of 13 break-point opportunities (61.5%) to 7 of 14 for Cristian.
Other first-round winners were seventh-seeded Lucia Bronzetti of Italy, Jana Fett of Croatia, Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia, Ann Li of the United States, Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey and Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine.
Guadalajara Open
Italy's Martina Trevisan powered to a 6-3, 6-2 win over eighth-seeded Caroline Dolehide of the United States in the first round of the WTA 500 tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Trevisan converted six of her 13 break-point opportunities while saving two of the four break points on her own serve.
Krueger collected four aces to counter nine double faults and saved six of 8 break points. Maria tallied seven double faults and saved five of 10 break points.
Fifth-seeded Magdalena Frech of Poland and sixth-seeded Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic cruised to straight-set wins. Frech topped the United States' Emina Bektas 6-4, 6-4, and Bouzkova downed Philippine qualifier Alexandra Eala 6-2, 6-2.
Ashlyn Krueger of the United States won a tough opening set before eliminating Tatjana Maria of Germany 7-5, 6-2.
Japan's Ena Shibahara, Canada's Marina Stakusic and Italy's Lucrezia Stefanini also advanced.
