The second time was the charm for Daria Kasatkina of Russia, who won the Rothesay International final Saturday at Eastbourne, England, with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Leylah Fernandez of Canada for her first career title on grass.
Kasatkina reached the final at Eastbourne last year, losing to Madison Keys.
It was also Kasatkina’s first title in four tries this season and her first since 2022.
“I just feel like I put down some very heavy backpack,” Kasatkina said. “Even though I understand that playing fourth final of the year, it’s a great achievement, still, if you don’t win, you have a very bitter feeling after that.”
The tournament’s No. 6 seed, Kasatkina broke Fernandez in the opening game of the match before breaking serve again to take the opening set. Kasatkina had her serve broken twice in the second set, but won the final three games, including two breaks of serve of her own.
Kasatkina converted five of 10 break points overall and won 63 percent of her first-serve points to 51 percent for her opponent.
Bad Homburg Open
Unseeded Diana Shnaider of Russia became the sixth player to win multiple titles this season with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Croatia’s Donna Vekic at Germany.
Shnaider, 20, also became the youngest player on tour to win more than one title this year.
Shnaider, who will rise to No. 30 in the next WTA rankings, had nine aces and saved 10 of 13 break points she faced in the match.
In the decisive third set, Shnaider broke Vekic’s serve to take a 2-1 lead and broke again to take a 4-3 lead. Shnaider won the title on Vekic’s serve, converting her first attempt on match point.
–Field Level Media
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