World No. 14 Daria Kasatkina secured her first grass-court title by defeating Leylah Fernandez 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Rothesay International at Eastbourne. This victory marks Kasatkina’s seventh career title and her first triumph of the season, following a challenging year on tour.
Returning to Eastbourne as the previous year’s runner-up, Kasatkina displayed remarkable consistency and skill throughout the tournament. She overcame Wang Xinyu, Yuan Yue, Emma Raducanu, and No. 7 seed Jasmine Paolini to reach her third grass-court final. Reflecting on her journey, Kasatkina said, “It’s been a year, but it feels like it’s been a few days since last year when I was standing here.”
Prior to her Eastbourne victory, Kasatkina had faced a tough run in finals this season, finishing as the runner-up in Charleston, Abu Dhabi, and Adelaide. Her win at Eastbourne not only broke this streak but also delivered her first title since her 2022 triumph in Granby. “I just feel like I put down some very heavy backpack,” Kasatkina shared, expressing relief and joy. “Even though playing the fourth final of the year is a great achievement, if you don’t win, you have a very bitter feeling after that.”
In their matchup, Kasatkina extended her unbeaten record against Fernandez to 3-0. Fernandez, ranked No. 30, was competing in her first grass-court final, coming off a strong performance in Birmingham where she reached the quarterfinals. At Eastbourne, she defeated notable players like Barbora Krejcikova and ended Madison Keys‘ title defense in the semifinals. However, Fernandez struggled to find her rhythm against Kasatkina’s tactical all-court game.
Kasatkina set the tone early by breaking Fernandez in the first game and fending off three break points in a marathon 11-deuce game to lead 4-2. She then broke Fernandez again to take the first set. The second set mirrored the first with Kasatkina breaking early for a 2-0 lead and consolidating to 3-0 despite facing four break points. Fernandez fought back to lead 4-3 but couldn’t maintain her serve, allowing Kasatkina to secure the match in 1 hour and 50 minutes.
“The second set was a roller coaster,” Kasatkina admitted. “Honestly, I didn’t feel great being 3-0 up and then suddenly 3-4 down. But I’m proud of myself for staying focused and not losing my composure. It was a tough moment, but I’m really happy with how I overcame it.”
