Daria Kasatkina Ends Title Drought with Eastbourne Victory

Daria Kasatkina overcame a spirited challenge from Leylah Fernandez to win the Eastbourne International in straight sets. The Russian sixth seed triumphed 6-3, 6-4, securing her seventh WTA title in one hour and 50 minutes at Devonshire Park. Kasatkina, who lost to Madison Keys in last year’s final, dominated the first set and closed out the match despite a brief fightback from the Canadian in the second set. “It’s been a year, but it feels like only a few days since the final last time,” said the 27-year-old. “It was a tough battle today. It’s been a long road to the title, but I am really proud.”

Fernandez’s serve was broken in the first game after a missed drop shot, and Kasatkina capitalized with a service hold. The Canadian found her rhythm and forced three break points in a hard-fought fifth game, which lasted over 20 minutes and included a medical stoppage. After 11 deuces, Kasatkina secured a crucial hold and maintained momentum, clinching the first set with a break in the ninth game following a Fernandez double fault. Daria Kasatkina initially showed no let-up in the second set, advancing to a 3-0 lead.

However, Fernandez fought back, breaking Kasatkina’s serve and leveling the set at 3-3. Fernandez broke Kasatkina again to go 4-3 up, but the Russian responded immediately. Kasatkina then closed out the contest, with victory secured when Fernandez overhit a forehand return. Kasatkina’s victory ended a losing streak in finals, as she had lost her past five WTA finals, including three in 2024. This title is her first since 2022. The win is especially significant ahead of Wimbledon, where she has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Fernandez showcased glimpses of brilliance at the net but struggled with unforced errors during baseline rallies. “It’s a wonderful tournament here in Eastbourne, and I’ve had a great time,” Fernandez remarked. “Hopefully, there will be many more finals like this. My team has really supported me in recent months, and our hard work is starting to pay off. We need to continue pushing forward, working hard, and never giving up.”