Daria Kasatkina wins first title since 2022 with straight sets win over Leylah Fernandez at Eastbourne International

Daria Kasatkina has defeated Leylah Fernandez in the final of the 2024 Eastbourne International to seal a first title since 2022 and head into Wimbledon full of confidence after a 6-3, 6-4 final win.

It is a seventh career title for Kasatkina, a first on grass, a first since August 2022 and a fifth WTA 500 crown for the Russian who earlier in the tournament defeated Emma Raducanu and Jasmine Paolini to reach the final.

She did weather a late storm by Fernandez who looked for a route back into the contest. But that was very much in vain as Kasatkina capitalised on a late slip as the Canadian looked to be in the ascendancy. She reached the final last year in Eastbourne and just full short. But this year, she saw off Fernandez who was into her first grass court final and showed her class in the process.

The match lasted just under two hours on the south coast of England. Fernandez lost her serve early on. But the pivotal game of the set came in which Kasatkina went 4-2 up. A 27 point game saw Fernandez have a number of break point chances. She didn't take them. Neither did Kasatkina in the next game after going 15-40 up but she did to win the set in a carbon copy of at 4-2 as she claimed it on the second opportunity.

Kasatkina went 3-0 up in the second set. But Fernandez roared back hoisting it to 4-3 in her favour. But her game collapsed from there. She handed a break to love to Kasatkina who consolidated and within a blink of an eye, she had claimed the match. After battling hard to get back into the tie, it was very much a disappointing end for Fernandez. But a great confidence boosting week for the Canadian who has shown her prowess on grass.