Keys rides the wind to 2nd Eastbourne title

Madison keys doubled up her trophy count at the WTA Eastbourne with a wind-swept 6-2, 7-6 (13) defeat of Daria Kastakina in the Saturday final.

The American winner heads to Wimbledon after adding 2023 honours to the trophy she won in 2014.

Keys needed five match points to prevail and was frequently frustrated by the trademark gusting wind of this English south coast seaside town.

Kasatkina looked down and out as she trailed a set and 4-1. But she managed to break back in the seventh game of the second set and take the match into a tiebreaker.

“It’s been nine years since my trophy here,” the winner said. “Eastbourne feels like home, I have some good memories from here..

“It was a really stressful tiebreak – and sorry for all the net cords.

“It’s been a tough season for me and I never would have imagined being here as the winner.”

Keys won her first grass title since 2016 (Birmingham) and her first on any surface since  Adelaide 18 months ago.

Main photo:- Madison Keys with Eastbourne Trophy