Eastbourne Tennis

BATTLING BELGIUM ACE SEALS SUCCESS IN RAIN-AFFECTED FINAL
Zizou Bergs was etched into the Eastbourne Open history books following his sparkling 6-3 1-6 6-4 triumph over no.6 seed Ugo Humbert.

The smaller than usual Centre Court crowd were treated to a rare three set thriller this week, with the final completed on Sunday after rain stopped play after 18 minutes and 42 seconds on Saturday.

No.6 seed Humbert (pictured) returned to centre stage, having carved out a 2-1 lead and serving to take a two-game cushion, and raced away with the opening set for the loss of just three games.

Battling Belgium ace Bergs turned the tables to reel off the second set 6-1 to square matters and force a decisive third set.

With so many Centre Court matches having ended in straight set victories, plus the two women’s semi-finals ending in withdrawals following a single set, it seemed that the best match of the tournament was saved to last.

Humbert led 3-2 in the last set, but suddenly the result seemingly flipped to trail 5-3 in the sweltering sunshine at Devonshire Park.

It became a nervy an more cautious contest. The French star held his serve to claw a game back but succumbed to Bergs' service game and for the Belgian to clinch his first-ever ATP Tour title.

This contest was effectively a warm-up before Wimbledon, as the pair meet on the grass at SW19 in the opening round of The Championships on Tuesday when Humbert is seeded no.27.

Zizou Bergs defeated Ugo Humbert (no.2 seed) 3-6 6-1 6-4.

MEN'S FINAL SWITCHED TO SUNDAY
Ugo Humbert leads Zizou Bergs 2-1 when the 2026 Lexus Eastbourne men's singles final resumes, weather permitting, on Sunday (11am),

Rain curtailed play at Devonshire Park from early afternoon, with a three-and-a-half hour delay before it was announced that Saturday's scheduled final would be postponed until the following day.

Bergs was serving with the score at 15-30, and the Belgian star having failed to win the break point in the third game to trail 2-1.

French ace Humbert, the no.6 seed, is chasing his first title this season while Bergs is seeking his maiden ATP Tour crown.

The pair have been drawn against each other in 1st round at Wimbledon, and are set for a SW19 showdown on Tuesday with Humbert seeded no.27 at The Championships.

HISTORY MAKER KEYS WARMS UP FOR WIMBLEDON
Madison Keys rewrote the Eastbourne Open annals by clinching her third title at Devonshire Park by defeating Tatjana Maria 7-5 6-3.

The American was in devasting form despite dropping three first set points, thumping 36 winners past the 38-year-old German.

Keys broke Maria on the third service game of the second set, and roared away to win the crown that she captured in 2014 and 2023.

The 29-year-old became the first woman to scoop the Eastbourne Open three times, and did not drop a set all week.

This was Keys' 16th WTA Tour final and her first shot at claiming silverware since stunning Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 Australian Open final.

Keys will climb up the world rankings from her current spot of no.27, and faces Kayla Day in the 1st round at Wimbledon. Despite her grass court prowess, Keys has yet to make it past the quarter-finals at The Championships.

When crowned champion, Eastbourne fan favourite Keys joked: "II always forget how heavy this one is. It's been such a special place for me to play here in Eastbourne.

"I won my first title here many, many years ago. So to win for a third time means the world to me. To do it in front of such amazing fans is the icing on the cake."

Maria

KEYS HITS A HAT-TRICK OF EASTBOURNE CROWNS
Madison Keys scooped the 2026 Lexus Eastbourne Open 7-5 6-4 at the expense of Germany’s Tatjana Maria in a majestic 93 minutes.

Centre Court fans were treated to a gripping battle, in stark contrast to Friday’s semi-finals that both ended in retirements, as the grass court experts played immaculately with enthralling rallies.

Keys (pictured) had been favourite to win having beaten Maria in three of their four previous meetings.

American no.2 seed Keys snatched the opening set to avenge last year’s grass court semi-final defeat at Queen’s.

Although 38-year-old Maria continued chipped away at winning precious points, a break of serve cost her dearly as the 2013 and 2024 Eastbourne champ reeled off victory ahead of next week’s Wimbledon.

This was the 10th WTA Tour title for 29-year-old Keys, and her third triumph at Devonshire Park. Keys is one of just eight women to have collected more than one crown at the pre-Wimbledon tournament.

Madison Keys (no.2 seed) defeated Tatjana Maria 7-5 6-4.

Maria

2026 LEXUS EASTBOURNE OPEN / SATURDAY’S FINALS
Despite the overnight thunderstorms, the show goes on with back-to-back Eastbourne Open finals on Devonshire Park’s Centre Court today.

American no.2 seed Madison Keys, who twice scooped the Wimbledon warm-up title, takes on veteran Tatjana Maria in the opening match that kicks off at midday.

Zizou Bergs will play no.6 seed Ugo Humbert in the men’s final, which for Eastbourne tennis regulars may feel strange not having US star Taylor Fritz vying for another grass court title.

Maria (pictured) collected a straight sets 2025 Queen’s semi-final victory over Keys the last time they met on grass. The German 38-year-old went on to lift the trophy as a qualifier, and since that success has gone from strength to strength on the WTA Tour.

Belgium’s Bergs bounced back from a set down in a semi-final showdown with Brit Toby Samuel to book only his second tour-level final. He will need the same resilience to over his in-form opponent.

France’s Humbert reached last week’s semi-finals at Queen’s, with signs of fatigue starting to show in his straight set win over Britain’s Jack Draper to reach the final.

CENTRE COURT (midday)
Tatjana Maria vs. Madison Keys (no.2 seed)
Women’s singles final

Zizou Bergs vs Ugo Humbert (6)
Men’s singles final

Maria

BERGS AND HUMBER DASH BRITISH HOPES
Dreams of an all-British men’s singles final at Devonshire Park were ended when Jack Draper and Toby Samuel were dealt knockout blows.

Wobbly first serves were the order of the day between the opener men’s semi-final when Zizou Bergs saw off gutsy Samuel (pictured).

Egged on by a vociferous crowd, Samuel steamed away with the opening set and things were neck-and-neck in the following set, which was pushed to a tiebreak.

Bergs levelled matters in a tense tiebreak and the Belgian star fired down more aces, ending up with 11, to storm past former Junior Wimbledon semi-finalist Samuel in the decisive final set for a 4-6 7-6(5) 6-2 triumph in a marathon match that fascinated fans for just over two hours.

The clash between the no.6 seed Ugo Humbert and Draper, who has been rejuvenated under the guidance of the former top player Andy Murray, failed to live up to the high expectations of the day’s top billing.

Despite a stream of winners, the clash was littered with unforced errors and the French star made three double faults although did thunder five aces past unsuspecting Draper.

There was always going to be one winner, with Humbert booking his final berth against Bergs courtesy of a fairly comfortable 7-5 6-3 success.

2026 LEXUS EASTBOURNE OPEN / MEN’S SEMI-FINALS
Z. Bergs defeated T. Samuel 4-6 7-6(5) 6-2
U. Humbert (no.6 seed) d. J. Draper 7-5 6-3

VETERANS PROGRESS FROM INJURY-HIT SEMI-FINALS
A rain delay and two withdrawals were served up for the 2026 Lexus Eastbourne Open women’s semi-finals, which put a damper on the tournament.

Centre Court fans expecting fireworks were seriously let down when no.3 seed Jelena Ostapenko and Croatia’s Petra Marcinko retired from their respective contests.

Latvia’s Ostapenko had previously experienced heatwave at Devonshire Park earlier this week, and complained of dizzy spells during her last four battle Tatjana Maria (pictured). The German 38-year-old sensationally won the Queen’s title last year as a qualifier.

The 2021 Eastbourne champion looked lost on court to drop the opening set 6-1, lacking her usual fight. During the enforced break for rain, the 29-year-old consulted the tournament physio.

Despite leading 2-1 in the second set, the former French Open winner threw in the towel citing a foot injury to leave the jam-packed Centre Court crowd stunned having seen just 51 minutes of action.

There was further disappointment for spectators on the show court when Marcinko also retired because of a shoulder injury.

America’s no.2 seed Madison Keys, who has hit a purple patch on grass ahead of Wimbledon, maintained her record of winning every set at Devonshire Park.

The 31-year-old two-time Eastbourne champion swept the floor with Marcinko to wrap up the set 6-1 in 29 blistering minutes, and was gifted a route into Saturday’s final.

2026 LEXUS EASTBOURNE OPEN / WOMEN’S SEMI-FINALS
T. Maria defeated J. Ostapenko (no.3 seed) 6-1 1-2 retired
M. Keys (2) defeated P. Marcinko 6-1 retired

2026 EASTBOURNE OPEN / FRIDAY’S MATCHES
Four back-to-back semi-finals at Devonshire Park’s Centre Court today should serve up a treat of sparkling play.

Although tennis fans may have felt shortchanged by the shock withdrawal of four-time Eastbourne champion Taylor Fritz on Wednesday, and one-sided quarter-finals, there are mouthwatering semi-finals to be contested at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament.

Germany’s Tatjana Maria becomes the latest opponent to try to stop the prolific Jelena Ostapenko for reeling off another grass court victory. The Latvian no.3 seed, who scooped the title five years ago and seems unstoppable, opens today’s Centre Court proceedings.

Two-time Eastbourne Open winner Madison Keys takes on Croatian Petra Marcinko in the second Centre Court match. The American no.2 seed has yet to drop a set all week.

Both of the men’s semi-finals feature a British player. Lucky loser Toby Samuel will battle it out with Belgium’s Zizou Bergs (pictured) before the big guns are rolled out for the day’s finale.

Jack Draper has showed more steel under the tutelage of former Wimbledon winner Andy Murray, with a tough task against France’s no.6 seed Ugo Humbert.

CENTRE COURT (11am)
T. Maria vs J. Ostapenko (no.3 seed)
Women’s singles semi-final

P. Marcinko vs M. Keys
Women’s singles semi-final

Z. Bergs vs T. Samuel
Men’s singles semi-final

J. Draper vs U. Humbert
Men’s singles semi-final

RARE SHOT AT AN ALL-BRITISH MEN’S FINAL
With only a single seed and two British players in Friday’s men’s semi-finals, the new Eastbourne Open champion should be a shock winner.

With the controversy surrounding the sudden withdrawn of defending champion Taylor Fritz forgotten, and the 2025 Wimbledon semi-finalist spotted by fans at various Eastbourne haunts last night, Thursday’s quarter-finals were a bit of a letdown.

All four matches finished in straight sets, but British dreams live on with two days remaining at the 2026 Lexus Eastbourne Open.

After two thumping wins on Centre Court for ex-Devonshire Park champions Madison Keys and Jelena Ostapenko, the supporters were anticipating the pair of men’s semi-finals to be hard-fought contests.

Jack Draper continued his rich vein of form to whizz past Canada’s Gabriel Diallo 6-1 6-4 in 69 minutes. The Brit’s comeback trail on grass has shown a new lease of life under the grass court season coaching from Andy Murray, with determination and ruthlessness now among his weapons.

Ugo Humbert (pictured) was also in fine fettle on Centre Court. The French ace wrapped up a convincing 6-3 6-4 success over compatriot and gutsy qualifier Quentin Halys in 77 minutes.

The no.6 seed will be given his first real test when he meets Draper in what appears to be a mouthwatering meeting on Centre Court, with numerous fans hoping for a three-set encounter.

Thursday’s other men’s back-to-back quarter-finals kicked off the action on No.1 Court, but these were too were also short-lived clashes.

Toby Samuel masterminded an impressive 6-3 6-4 triumph to set up a clash with Belgium Zizou Bergs. The British qualifier accounted for Argentine’s seeded Juan Manuel Cerundolo in 82 minutes thanks to two breaks of service games.

Fellow British qualifier Jan Choinski seemed to run out of steam against Bergs, losing 6-3 6-3 in 76 minutes but picking up a healthy pay cheque, crucial ATP points and no doubt new fans.

2026 LEXUS EASTBOURNE OPEN MEN’S QUARTER-FINALS
J. Draper defeated G. Diallo 6-1 6-4
U. Humbert (no.6 seed) d. Q. Halys 6-3 6-4
T. Samuel d. J. Cerundolo (8) 6-3 6-4
Z. Bergs d. J. Choinski 6-3 6-3

2026 EASTBOURNE MEN’S SINGLES DRAW
Z. Bergs vs T. Samuel
J. Draper vs U. Humbert

FORMER CHAMPIONS REMAIN EN ROUTE FOR FINAL SHOWDOWN
Madison Keys and Jelena Ostapenko brushed aside their Centre Court opponents on Thursday to steam into the semi-finals.

The two ex-Eastbourne winners were involved in one-sided contests, much to the disappointment of a bumper crowd despite the blazing sunshine at Devonshire Park.

Latvia’s 2021 Eastbourne champ Ostapenko had suffered heat stroke overnight, but she bounced back with aplomb to destroy Turkish star Zeynep Sonmez 6-3 6-0 in 69 minutes.

American ace Keys, who lifted the south coast crown in 2014 and 2023, dismantled compatriot McCartney Keller 6-3 6-1 in 72 minutes before a pair of men’s matches also followed suit with straight set victories.

No.3 seed Ostapenko faces Germany’s Tatjana Maria, who saw off Czechia’s Tereza Valentova 6-3 7-5. While no.2 seed Keys will play Croatian surprise semi-finalist Petra Marcinko (pictured), a former Junior world no.1.

If the two remaining seeds can navigate their way in the final, then one of these fan favourites can reclaim the Eastbourne Open just ahead of next week’s Wimbledon.

2026 LEXUS EASTBOURNE OPEN WOMEN’S QUARTER-FINALS
J. Ostapenko (no.3 seed) defeated Z. Sonmez 6-3 6-0
M. Keys (2) d. M. Kessler (7)
T. Maria d. T. Valentova 6-3 7-5
P. Marcinko d. C. McNally 6-3 4-6 6-4

2026 EASTBOURNE WOMEN’S SINGLES DRAW
T. Maria vs J. Ostapenko
P. Marcinko vs M. Keys