Despite a great comeback in the second set, Leylah Annie Fernandez had to admit defeat. The Laval player lost by a score of 6-3 and 6-4 in the final of the Eastbourne tournament.
Posted at 9:44 a.m.
Fernandez trailed 0-3 in the second set, before climbing back to 4-3. Then, his opponent, Daria Kasatkina, 14e world player, was uncompromising, winning all the points towards victory.
Fernandez multiplied the winners, but also the unforced errors, trapped by the defensive style of her rival. In the end, she let eight of her ten break points slip away, but was broken five times in ten occasions.
This is a third victory for Kasatkina (14e) in as many duels between the two women. She also won her first career title on grass.
For Fernandez (30e), it was a first final on grass and in a category 500 event. She participated in a first WTA final since she won the Hong Kong tournament at the expense of the Czech Katerina Siniakova, on October 15, 2023.
The left-hander will return to action next week, when the prestigious Wimbledon grass court tournament gets underway. She will also compete in the Olympic Games, which will take place at the end of July.
