Lexus Eastbourne Open 2026: Madison Keys crowned champion for a third time
• 3 minute read
Madison Keys is the Lexus Eastbourne Open champion for a third time in her career after an impressive victory over former HSBC Championships winner Tatjana Maria.
Keys dropped just three points behind serve in the second set to defeat the 38-year-old German 7-5, 6-3 in Saturday’s final.
The American becomes only the third player to win the Eastbourne women’s singles title on three occasions – joining Chris Evert (three) and Martina Navratilova (11). She’s also the first player to win her first three Eastbourne finals in a row.
Playing in her first final since the 2025 Australian Open, Keys continued the devastating form she’s shown throughout the week, and went on to win the tournament without dropping a set.
The world No.27 was all smiles as she led the celebrations with her team, before addressing the Eastbourne crowd, who had been behind her all tournament.
“I always forget how heavy this is!” Keys joked as she picked up the trophy for the third time – an 11th career WTA title.
“It’s been such a special place for me to play here in Eastbourne. I won my first title here many years ago, and to win it for a third time means the absolute world to me.”
Madison Keys' path to the Lexus Eastbourne Open title
- First round: Talia Gibson (AUS) 6-4, 6-4
- Second round: Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (ESP) 6-0, 6-1
- Quarter-final: McCartney Kessler (USA) (7) 6-3, 6-1
- Semi-final: Petra Marcinko (CRO) 6-1, 0-0 (RET)
- Final: Tatjana Maria (GER) 7-5, 6-3
Maria can be a tough opponent on grass and has shown her quality in the past – most notably in her HSBC Championships title run in 2025 – but it seemed to be a good matchup for Keys in the form she’s shown this week.
The ball-striking on serve and both groundstrokes, along with a willingness to come into the net and pile on the pressure, prevented Maria from executing her slice game.
The American got out to a fast start, breaking in the third game of the match and led from the front the rest of the way.
Keys looked unstoppable on serve, but showed her first signs of nerves trying to see out the set at 5-4. The American had three set points come and go – including two double faults – and Maria managed to level the score.
The second seed quickly got back to work and showed her full firepower to break straight back and then see out the set at the second time of asking.
Keys broke Maria on her third service game of the second set, and held to love on three of four games as she charged her way to the title.
The former Australian Open champion finished the match with a total of 36 winners in just over an hour and a half.
“I want to congratulate Madison and her team on a great week, and I wish her all the best for Wimbledon,” Maria said after the match.
“It’s a really nice tournament. I swear I will come back next year – I won’t wait another 11 years!
“It’s amazing to travel with my family around the world, and we live for these moments.”
Both Keys and Maria now turn their attention to Wimbledon, where they will be dangerous players in the women’s singles draw.
Keys hasn’t made it past the quarter-finals at SW19 before, but will start this year’s campaign against fellow American Kayla Day.
Meanwhile, 2022 semi-finalist Maria has drawn Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, and could face 16th seed Iva Jovic in the second round.
Title Partner
Official Partners
