Lexus Eastbourne Open 2026: Two-time champion Madison Keys into second round as top seed Jasmine Paolini exits in opener
• 2 minute read
Two-time champion Madison Keys made a winning return at the Lexus Eastbourne Open with a first round win over Talia Gibson, while top seed Jasmine Paolini suffered an early upset.
Following a quarter-final run in Berlin last week, the American got underway at the tournament where she claimed her first WTA title 12 years ago.
Keys converted three of her six break points across the match to beat the Australian 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 35 minutes.
The world No.28 was pleased with her level today, despite the warm conditions on the South Coast and will be hoping to continue her winning streak over the remainder of the week.
“Getting a couple of breaks early in the first set, and then being able to do it off the first game in the second set - I was just able to continue to serve well and keep the momentum going. I’m glad to get away (with a win)."
The 31-year-old lifted her first title in 2014 before claiming her second crown at Devonshire Park three years ago. Competing as the second seed this week, Keys will undoubtedly be the favourite to lift the trophy once again as she targets a hat-trick of titles in Eastbourne.
For Keys, it marks the first time she has competed at the tournament since winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last year, and despite the new accolade attached to her name, she still feels like the same player she was last time out.
“Not a whole lot (has changed), really happy to be back,” she added. “This was the first title I ever won so it’s always been a really special place for me. To be able to come back after all these years and continue playing a really high level still is incredible."
In the next round, she'll take on Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro who beat British wild card Alicia Dudeney in the opening round.
The American had let an early break slip but responded once again to convert her third break point of the set and move 5-3 ahead.
Keys was dominant on serve throughout the match, dropping just seven points behind her first serve and closed out a one set lead in style as she sent down one of her seven aces.
The second seed kept her foot on the gas and broke the Australian again with a sublime dropshot in the first game of the second set to go 2-0 ahead.
The 2025 Australian Open champion showed her resilience to see off three break points at 3-1 before hanging firm to close out her first win at Eastbourne in three years and extend her win record at the tournament to 13-3.
Earlier today, top seed Jasmine Paolini suffered a first round upset at the hands of former HSBC Championships winner Tatjana Maria.
While there are 98 spots separating Paolini and Maria in the rankings, it was the world No.112's experience on the grass that proved pivotal - with Maria closing out a 6-4, 6-3 win over the two-time Grand Slam finalist.
Today marked a sixth career meeting between the German and Italian, with Paolini edging the head-to-head 3-2 coming into the contest. However, it was always going to be a difficult match-up given Maria’s 8-6 win record against top 20 players on grass, as the 37-year-old claimed her latest victory.
“I was happy that we played on grass,” Maria said on her victory over Paolini. “She’s such a tough opponent, such a nice girl outside of the court. I see her every day and my kids love her so it was really a tough one playing a first round against each other.
“I didn’t start very well but I found myself back in the match and I’m really happy about this (win).”
Paolini made a bright start as she surged into a 3-0 lead at the start of the first set. However, a testing fifth game that saw her face four break points proved to be the turning point as Maria secured her first of two break to take the opener.
Maria carried the momentum from then onwards, finding two more breaks to put her 4-1 up in the second. Paolini managed to temporarily reduce the deficit but another poor service game from the former world No.4 provided Maria with three match points before she closed out her first main draw win at Devonshire Park.
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