American tennis player Madison Keys secured victory in a thrilling tiebreaker to claim the Eastbourne International title on Saturday. She defeated ninth-seeded Daria Kasatkina with a score of 6-2, 7-6 (13) in the final match of the grass-court tournament. This was Keys’ second title at the event and her seventh career title overall.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) confirmed that the tiebreaker in the second set of the match was the second longest of the season so far. It was a hard-fought battle between the two players, with Keys eventually emerging victorious after a grueling tiebreaker. This win marked her third title on grass and she expressed her joy at being able to win this tournament twice, stating that it holds special memories for her.
In the lead-up to the final, Keys had displayed exceptional performance by defeating seventh-ranked Coco Gauff in straight sets. This was a significant victory for Keys as it was her first win over a top-10 player on grass since her triumph over Angelique Kerber in the 2014 Eastbourne final.
On the men’s side, American player Tommy Paul fell short in the final against fourth-seeded Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina. The match concluded with a score of 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in favor of Cerundolo. Both players had already played one match earlier in the day, but Paul had expended more energy in his previous encounter.
Cerundolo’s semifinal match against American player Mackenzie MacDonald had been suspended due to rain in the previous day. When play resumed, Cerundolo swiftly sealed the victory by winning the final set 6-2. Paul, on the other hand, defeated France’s Gregoire Barrere 6-4, 6-3 in the other semifinal match before proceeding to the final.
This triumph marked Cerundolo’s second ATP tour title, a significant milestone in his career. He reflected on the match against MacDonald, expressing gratitude for his ability to turn the tide and emerge victorious. Cerundolo described the final as incredibly challenging due to the strong winds.
Meanwhile, Paul’s commendable performance in reaching the final resulted in him matching his career-high ranking of No. 15. This achievement will surely boost his confidence heading into Wimbledon, which is scheduled to begin in the following week.
Overall, the Eastbourne International provided thrilling tennis matches and memorable moments for both the players and the spectators. Madison Keys’ triumph and Francisco Cerundolo’s comeback were standout performances, solidifying their places in the tennis world and setting the stage for future tournaments.
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