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Keys completes Eastbourne hat-trick after seeing off Maria in straight sets

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Madison Keys captured her third Eastbourne Open title following a straight-sets victory over Tatjana Maria.

The former Australian Open champion added to her titles in 2014 and 2023, as she prevailed 7-5 6-4 in 93 minutes.

Both players progressed to the championship match via retirements, with semi-final opponents Petra Marcinko and Jelena Ostapenko withdrawing one set into their respective encounters.

Keys landed the first blow of the final when she broke in game three, but saw three set points go begging in the 10th as Maria dug deep to break back.

However, Keys broke again in the following game, before holding to draw first blood with her second set point.

The American then claimed the decisive break in game seven of the second set, before securing victory with a love hold.

Keys joins Navratilova and Evert in exclusive Eastbourne club

Keys has joined a very exclusive club, matching Martina Navratilova (11) and Chris Evert (three) as the only players to win at Eastbourne on three or more occasions.

The American, who also triumphed in Birmingham 10 years ago, is now a four-time WTA winner on grass - a tally only bettered by Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Petra Kvitova this century.

Though favourite for victory, this was never going to be a walkover for Keys, who Maria defeated on route to glory at Queen's Club last year.

The 2022 Wimbledon semi-finalist was looking to maintain her perfect career record in WTA finals, having won all four of her previous championship matches.

However, Keys was just too strong – winning 88.6% of her points on first serve (31 of 35), and winning three of the six break points she forced.

Though she made winning the first set harder work than necessary – squandering three set points at 5-4 – the 31-year-old made no mistake in the second set, sealing a timely victory ahead of Wimbledon.