The British grass‑court swing reaches its final stop before Wimbledon as the WTA Tour heads to the south coast for the Eastbourne Open — one of the most prestigious and chaotic warm‑up events of the summer.
This tournament has long been a haven for former champions hoping to rediscover their grass-court form, and this year’s line‑up is no exception.
Two‑time winner Madison Keys returns as one of the highest‑ranked players in the draw, joined by 2021 champion Jelena Ostapenko and reigning champion Maya Joint.
The 2024 Wimbledon finalists Jasmine Paolini and Barbora Krejcikova are on opposite sides of the draw with the Italian set to face a tough early test in round one from Tatjana Maria.
But anyone can go all the way if they get it right, as an unseeded under-the-radar teenager did at last year’s tournament.
Joint came in as an unknown Australian and left as the youngest champion since Belinda Bencic in 2015.
Three names stand out in the betting with Keys, whose raw power has historically overwhelmed opponents on grass, heading into the event as the favourite.
Maria, whose slice‑heavy, low‑skidding game saw her reach the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2022, can still cause problems to the best at age 38. And fellow German veteran Siegemund is another contender to contemplate after her run to the quarter-finals at SW19 a year ago.
WTA Eastbourne Open Tips Summary
Best Bet – Madison Keys to win @ 7/2
Alternative Bet – Tatjana Maria each-way @ 16/1
Alternative Bet – Laura Siegemund each-way @ 20/1
WTA Eastbourne Open Prediction
Best Bet: Madison Keys to win @ 7/2
Keys deserves to be the favourite because of her enduring class, fitness and consistency.
The two‑time Eastbourne champion remains one of the most dangerous grass‑court players in the world. Her serve‑plus‑forehand combination is tailor‑made for slick lawns, and she has repeatedly shown she can hit through the coastal winds better than most.
Keys’ history of deep grass‑court tournament runs, such as to the 2024 Wimbledon semis and the same stage at Queen’s Club last summer, show she still has the stamina and appetite to go deep in events like this.
But her Wimbledon preparations this year look to be incomplete after she played only three competitive matches on grass at Berlin last week.
However, the nature of her quarter-final loss to Jessica Pegula after two tight tie-breaks suggests she is at the level required to win another Eastbourne Open.
Her biggest rival in the bottom half of the draw is Krejcikova, but the Czech star recently pulled out of a grass-court final in the Netherlands with an illness and also cited a thigh injury when she withdrew from the quarter-finals at Eastbourne last year.
Keys’ other threats on paper — Ostapenko and Paolini — are in mixed form, and the American’s ability to dominate short points gives her a tactical edge in unpredictable conditions.
At 7/2, she looks the most reliable outright option.
Alternative Bet: Tatjana Maria each-way @ 16/1
Maria is one of the most unique grass‑court players on the tour. Her low, skidding slice forehand and clever net approaches are tailor‑made for this surface, and she has repeatedly outfoxed more powerful opponents.
A Wimbledon semi‑finalist in 2022 and the Queen’s Club champion as a qualifier last summer, she should be taken very seriously this week.
The 38-year-old has never previously played at the event, perhaps because she felt her style would not suit the blustery conditions.
But she has already found her match rhythm on grass with a 6-3 record on the surface already this year and will not fear her first-round opponent — top seed Paolini.
Maria won their only previous meeting on grass and will have an edge in the conditions against the Italian, who has not played a competitive singles point on grass since Wimbledon last year when she lost in the second round.
Alternative Bet: Laura Siegemund each-way @ 20/1
Siegemund is the No.5 seed at Eastbourne and may have landed in the slightly easier half of the draw, avoiding Keys and Krejcikova.
The 38-year-old’s singles form is a bit patchy but her grass‑court skill levels are impressive.
The doubles specialist is one of the best volleyers in the women’s game, and her ability to mix spins, angles and drop shots makes her a nightmare on low‑bouncing courts.
Siegemund reached the last eight at Wimbledon last summer, beating Keys in the third round and pushing Aryna Sabalenka in a tightly contested three-set quarter-final.
She could be a nightmare for Ostapenko in the second quarter and looks a lively outsider for the title at 20/1.
Key Tournament Stats
- Keys is a two‑time Eastbourne champion (2014, 2023)
- Paolini is a former Wimbledon finalist and Eastbourne semi‑finalist
- The Italian top seed is playing her first grass-court event since Wimbledon 2025
- Ostapenko won Eastbourne in 2021
- Eastbourne is known for strong winds, often producing high‑variance matches
- Maya Joint is the reigning champion
Read more tennis betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
