Sunday, December 22, 2024

Eastbourne: Leylah Fernandez to play Daria Kasatkina in final – BBC Sport

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Image caption, Leylah Fernandez was beaten in the 2021 US Open final by Emma Raducanu

Leylah Fernandez produced a brilliant performance to beat defending champion Madison Keys and reach the Eastbourne final.

The Canadian world number 30 overcame the American fourth seed 6-3 3-6 6-3 in blustery conditions.

The 21-year-old will take on last year’s runner-up Daria Kasatkina in Sunday’s final.

Russian sixth seed Kasatkina came from a set down to beat French Open finalist Jasmine Paolini 3-6 7-5 6-3.

Paolini was bidding to become the first Italian finalist at Eastbourne since Raffaella Reggi in 1989.

The Italian powered her way into the lead to the frustration of Kasatkina, who shouted towards her support team on more than one occasion.

Kasatkina steadied herself well, breaking Paolini as she served to try and force a second-set tie-break, but she quickly found herself 2-0 down in the third set.

However, Paolini began to struggle to control her groundstrokes and Kasatkina won five of the final six games to secure her place in the final.

Kasatkina, 27, has won both her previous matches against Fernandez, but Sunday will be the pair’s first meeting on grass.

“Grass suits Leylah and her game. She’s a very aggressive player and in great form. I’ll just go and try to enjoy myself,” Kasatkina said.

Eastbourne is one of the final grass-court events before Wimbledon, which begins on Monday.

Harris’ superb Eastbourne run ends

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Image caption, Billy Harris is the British number five

Briton Billy Harris’ fantastic run at Eastbourne is over after he lost in three sets to Australian qualifier Max Purcell.

The 29-year-old was playing in his first ATP Tour semi-final but was beaten 6-4 4-6 6-4 by Purcell, ranked 94th in the world.

Harris, the world number 139, was broken early in the first set and Purcell held firm on serve to take the lead.

The Briton failed to earn a break point until the end of the second set but he was able to convert it to take the match into a decider.

Purcell booked his place in the final after breaking for the second time in the match midway through the final set.

The loss brings to an end a fantastic few weeks for Harris after he made the quarter-finals at Queen’s before going one better in Eastbourne.

The British number five from the Isle of Man spent the first few years of his professional career driving to tournaments around Europe in a transit van.

Harris will move on to Wimbledon, where he will make his debut against Spain’s Jaume Munar after being given a wildcard.

Purcell will take on top seed Taylor Fritz or compatriot Aleksandar Vukic in Saturday’s final.

Elsewhere, Briton Paul Jubb was beaten 6-4 7-5 by Austrian Sebastian Ofner in the Mallorca Open semi-finals.

World number 289 Jubb knocked out top seed Ben Shelton yesterday to reach his first ATP Tour semi-final.

Ofner will play Chilean Alejandro Tabilo in the final on Saturday.

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