Joao Fonseca makes grass-court breakthrough
Brazil’s Joao Fonseca claimed his first ATP win on grass with a confident 6-4, 6-3 victory over Zizou Bergs. The 17-year-old’s aggressive baseline play proved too consistent for Bergs, earning Fonseca a second-round clash with defending champion Taylor Fritz.
Lulu Sun stuns defending champion Kasatkina
New Zealand’s Lulu Sun delivered the tournament’s first major upset, defeating top seed Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3. Sun dictated play with pace and depth, breaking Kasatkina repeatedly and neutralising the Russian’s counterpunching game.
Francesca Jones shows resilience in opening win
British wildcard Francesca Jones earned a 7-5, 6-4 win over Belgium’s Greet Minnen, combining variation and smart court positioning to grind out the win. The result is a confidence boost as Jones continues her return from injury.
Alexandra Eala impresses on debut
17-year-old Alexandra Eala marked her Eastbourne debut with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win over Viktoriya Tomova. Eala stayed composed under pressure and took control early in both sets, confirming her status as one to watch on grass.
Pavlyuchenkova comes through in three
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova overcame a rough first set to defeat Magda Linette 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. The former Roland-Garros finalist used her experience to turn the match around, finding rhythm on return and controlling the final set.
Sonay Kartal sets sights on top 30
Sonay Kartal, making her Eastbourne singles debut, has publicly set a goal of breaking into the WTA top 30 by the end of the year. The 22-year-old from Hove begins her campaign against third seed Elena Ostapenko, and already has a doubles win under her belt alongside Jodie Burrage, defeating Americans Hailey Baptiste and Peyton Stearns in straight sets.
"I feel better now in general on the court and off the court," Kartal told BBC South East. “Top 50 was my original goal, but after the last few months, I’ve shifted my focus to the top 30.”
She also spoke about her past with Emma Raducanu, who she grew up competing against in under-9 tournaments. “We’d always play each other in the final,” she said. Both players will feature in Tuesday’s singles schedule, with Raducanu facing American Anne Li.
As the Lexus Eastbourne Open 2025 unfolds, rising stars and established names continue to deliver in the build-up to Wimbledon.