Lexus Eastbourne Open 2026: Top seeds Jasmine Paolini and Madison Keys eyeing up more success on the South Coast

The number one and two seeds will kick off their title campaigns tomorrow with Paolini facing 2025 HSBC Championships winner Tatjana Maria and Madison Keys gearing up to play Lexus Nottingham Open quarter-finalist Talia Gibson.

Paolini returns to Devonshire Park with fond memories of her 2024 semi-final run that saw her beat Germany’s Elise Mertens and two-time Lexus Nottingham Open champion Katie Boulter before losing out to eventual champion Daria Kasatkina.

“That was an amazing grass court season”, the Italian said of her 2024 run, “but it's nice to be back here. 

“I like this place, especially when the sun is out and the courts are really, really good. The grass is impressive, so it's great to play here. We have everything close - it's a small city, we have the sea, so it's nice.”

Following her run to the final four on the South Coast, Paolini went on to reach the final of Wimbledon after defeating 19th seed Emma Navarro and world No.37 Donna Vekic before missing out to Barbora Krejcikova 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in the final.

The Italian will kick off her grass court season with her third appearance at the Lexus Eastbourne Open following some mixed results this season - her best being a semi-final run at the WTA 500 event in Merida.

The top seed is looking for more success on the grass but appreciates the unpredictability of the surface, which can throw plenty of challenges.

“I think every year it's different and it's a difficult surface to play on. I think when you are enjoying, and you believe in yourself, and you are confident in your game, that can help you a lot but if you have some doubts or something like that then it's a very difficult surface. 

“Hopefully this year I can start well, I can feel good on grass because I like playing on grass and I can prove to myself that I can play good and hopefully this year I can play good.”

Meanwhile, 2014 and 2023 champion Keys is targeting a hat-trick of titles at Devonshire Park in what will be her sixth appearance at the tournament.

“I have just always really loved playing in Eastbourne. I think the courts are amazing. It's such a kind of quiet, easy week.

“I feel like those are always the weeks that I've always really enjoyed. I think I've always liked to take the week and be able to get a little bit more practice on the grass.

"I think it's just one of those places where you have success in the past and you just feel a little bit more confident coming into it.”

Keys picked up her first career WTA title in Eastbourne back in 2014 before repeating the feat nine years later in 2023 ahead of her second quarter-final run at Wimbledon.

The 2025 Australian Open is one to watch this week as she comes into the tournament with a 54-20 win record on grass, having captured also won the Lexus Birmingham Open crown in 2016. 

“The first time I won Eastbourne, it was my first title ever, and it was incredible, it was amazing, and it was a little bit of a whirlwind. Then I won it again, I think nine or ten years in between, so it kind of came a little bit out of the blue.

“It felt like the last time I won it, it kind of reignited something and I felt like I really kind of found my game and was able to play some good tennis after that. I feel like winning a title in Eastbourne has always set me up for a couple of good months after.