2010 Saturday final report

AEGON International | Eastbourne

Makarova's in seventh heaven

Ice-cool Ekaterina Makarova became the first qualifier to ever win the Eastbourne event, after winning seven matches on the trot.

The Russian world no100 stormed to her maiden career title without dropping a set all week, and sealed success with a battling 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Victoria Azarenka in 112 minutes.

But in the opening exchanges candyfloss pink-kitted Belarussian ace Azarenka looked to end the giant-killer's emphatic run by racing to an opening set 3-0 lead. 

The 22-year-old, playing in traditional Wimbledon white, then got some advice from her coach after the stuttering start to bounce back in style and edge the tiebreak against the world no15.

After high-pitched shrieker Azarenka sped into an early 2-1 lead in the next set, the 20-year-old part-based in Arizona and Paris, seemed to be stuggling with a knee injury so called for her coach.

After the enforced break, Makarova immediately broke Azarenka's serve to level matters at 2-2 and then went for broke to seal the set and the title to become the first unseeded Devonshire Park winner since Chanda Rubin's 2002 triumph.

And Makarova will climb up the world rankings after her run of wins on grass, especially as prior to Eastbourne she had not registered back-to-back main draw matches this season.

The rising Russian star steamrolled to the final, including stunning victories over twice grand slam winner and compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova and recent French Open runner-up Sam Stosur of Australia. 

Makarova, playing in her third career final, said: "I started very good today and made no mistakes, but then I got a bit nervous and she came back, but I threw this from my mind and played point by point."

"I'm in shock right now, especially that I didn't lose a set. This is just unbelievable to me, I cannot believe that I did it. I can't understand yet that I've won.

"There was no secret to the success, my secret has been my great coach - the best! I was eating every day pasta in the same restaurant, so maybe that's the reason! But I also like the grass and I've really enjoyed the week and playing through qualifying here.

"I never thought I could win. In the first round qualifying match I played another Russian and we're really good friends. I didn't think anything like I can win, it was a really tough draw. But I'm just enjoying my tennis.

"My family have been watching on TV, and thanks to the crowd and the sponsors for the tennis here."

Azarenka, who saw off two former Eastbourne champions (Clijsters and Radwanska) to reach the final, would not expand on her injury and said: "It's my problem, I'll keep it to myself. I still have to treat it and I don't want to put it out there but it's not a big thing."

Final preview

2010 AEGON International | 19 June

Victoria Azarenka (BLR) v Ekaterina Makarova (RUS)

Victoria Azarenka is the favourite to be crowned Eastbourne 2010 after scything her way past top names on grass, but faces a daunting task against world no100 Ekaterina Makarova.

Belarussian ace Azarenka (pictured left) has been at her high-pitched shrieking best to dismiss quality players in her side of the draw, including a first round exit for 2008 Eastbourne winner Agniezska Radwanska and a semi-final success over French ace Marion Bartoli - both in straight sets.

Russian Makarova has been in emphatic form, and steamrolled her way through three qualifying matches as well as the main draw without dropping a set.

The giant-killer subdued battling Australian Sam Stosur in a memorable semi-final showdown, fighting back from an initial 3-0 deficit before her coach intervened and a change of tactics deservedly edged her into the final.

Makarova is the first qualifier to reach the final at Eastbourne since compatriot Vera Duchevina finished runner-up to Belgian's Kim Clijsters at Devonshire Park in 2005.

Makarova tore past in-form two-time grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova with a gritty performance aand is becoming an expert at tiebreak victories.

Victoria Azarenka

vs

Ekaterina Makarova
Victoria Azarenka
Jul 31, 1989Birthday:Jun 07, 1988
20 yearsAge:22 years
Belarus Country: Russia
15Current rank:100
6 (Mar 08, 2010)Highest rank:35 (May 11, 2009)
Right-handedPlays:Right-handed
 Ekaterina Makarova

2009 Saturday result

2009 AEGON International | 20 June

Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) defeated Virginie Razzano (France) 7-6, 7-5

2009 Saturday report

Eastbournetennis.com | 20 June

20009 champion wozniacki"I felt the ball really well today," admitted newly crowned Eastbourne champion Caroline Wozniacki. Then beamed: "I won, and that’s the main thing, and I’m very happy."

The Monaco-based Danish teenager (pictured) showed flaws on her backhand but had the winning edge to triumph 7-6, 7-5 for her second title of 2009 and coyly confessed: "I enjoy playing on grass and I think it suits my game."

And to add to the 18-year-old's joyous week on the south coast of England, ex-Eastbourne champion Martina Navratilova predicted during the tournament that the Danish ace is the only outsider to win Wimbledon 2009.

Although Wozniacki was not as prolific in the final as the rest of the week, the ever-smiling blonde showed her grass court prowess by capturing the AEGON International with a two set struggle over Virginie Razzano.

A tight first set went into a tiebreak after only one break of serve a-piece, with Wozniacki whizzing into a comprehensive 6-1 lead. But Razzano fought back with some brave shotmaking and reel off four successive points before bowing out of the set 7-5.

Wozniacki continued confidently with an immediate break in the second set and at times struggled to cope with the French ace's approaches to the net and cracking forehand winners. 

Only the great Dane's serve kept matters tight and Wozniacki squealed with delight on match point only for her powerful serve to be called out at a very late stage. Razzano survived that point but eventually fell to finish a close runner-up in 101 minutes.

""It was a great, tough final. It was not easy for me to lose in two sets, but they were close," admitted 26-year-old runner-up Razzano. "I'm happy with my matches against Dementieva and Radwanska though. Today, I just wasn't as fresh as I was before."

Wozniacki smiled: "Every title means something special to me. It’s my first title [senior WTA Tour] on grass, so that means a lot to me. I believe I have a chance and when I go out there I want to win.” 

She added: “Both sets were very tight and I wish I could close it off a little bit earlier. But I mean it doesn’t matter how I won. I won, and that’s the main thing and I’m very happy.”