WTA Eastbourne Open 2026 Preview, Top Seeds, Players to Watch & Predictions

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  • Eastbourne Open offers key grass-court prep before Wimbledon
  • Madison Keys & Barbora Krejcikova lead a strong, competitive field
  • Fans can stream all matches live in HD via top bookmakers
WTA Eastbourne
Top players gather at Devonshire Park for the Lexus Eastbourne Open, one of the final grass-court tournaments before Wimbledon. (credit: Getty)

The Lexus Eastbourne Open returns to Devonshire Park as one of the final stops on the grass-court swing before Wimbledon. Despite its recent downgrade to WTA 250 status, the tournament continues to attract a strong field thanks to its rich history, iconic venue and crucial place in the calendar just days before the start of the Championships. 

First held in 1974, Eastbourne has crowned some of the biggest names in women's tennis, including record 11-time champion Martina Navratilova. With players seeking valuable match practice and confidence on grass, fans can expect a week of high-quality tennis featuring powerful serving, aggressive shot-making and plenty of Wimbledon contenders.

Tournament Overview

With fast grass courts and valuable match practice on offer, Eastbourne provides players with the perfect opportunity to sharpen their game ahead of the year's third Grand Slam. Fans can expect a week of high-quality tennis featuring several proven grass-court performers and Wimbledon contenders.

CategoryDetails
CategoryWTA 250
SurfaceOutdoor Grass
LocationEastbourne, United Kingdom
VenueDevonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club
Founded1974
Draw32 Singles / 24 Qualifying / 16 Doubles
Prize MoneyUS$389,000
Defending ChampionMaya Joint

Ranking Points & Prize Money Breakdown

With Wimbledon just around the corner, the Lexus Eastbourne Open offers players a valuable chance to gain ranking points, confidence and momentum on grass. The tournament champion will collect 250 WTA ranking points and a winner's cheque of $65,850, making it one of the most important events of the final grass-court week.

RoundRanking PointsPrize Money
Winner250$65,850
Finalist163$38,960
Semifinalist98$21,715
Quarterfinalist54$12,370
Round of 1630$7,545
First Round1$5,400

Playing Conditions & Court Speed

The Lexus Eastbourne Open is played on outdoor grass courts at Devonshire Park, offering players one of their final chances to fine-tune their game before Wimbledon. The surface rewards aggressive tennis, with strong serving, flat ball-striking and quick point construction often proving decisive throughout the week. 

Grass courts typically produce a lower and faster bounce than clay or hard courts, making first-strike tennis particularly effective. Players who can hold serve comfortably, take the ball early and dictate rallies are usually best equipped to thrive in Eastbourne's fast conditions.

FactorImpact
Surface SpeedFast grass-court conditions
Court TypeOutdoor grass
Bounce LevelLow, skidding bounce
Rally LengthGenerally short points
Key AdvantageStrong serving and first-strike tennis
Favoured PlayersAggressive baseliners and all-court players

Recent Champions

Eastbourne has consistently attracted high-quality fields, and its list of recent champions reflects the strength of the event. Several former winners have gone on to enjoy successful Wimbledon campaigns, underlining the tournament's importance as one of the final grass-court stops before the Grand Slam.

YearChampionRunner-up
2025Maya JointAlexandra Eala
2024Daria KasatkinaLeylah Fernandez
2023Madison KeysDaria Kasatkina
2022Petra KvitovaJelena Ostapenko
2021Jelena OstapenkoAnett Kontaveit

Top 8 Seeds

The Eastbourne field may be competing at WTA 250 level, but it still features several established stars and proven grass-court performers. With a Wimbledon champion, former Eastbourne winners and dangerous big hitters in the draw, the battle for the title promises to be highly competitive.

SeedPlayerRanking
1Jasmine Paolini14
2Madison Keys28
3Jelena Ostapenko38
4Barbora Krejcikova39
5Laura Siegemund42
6Janice Tjen43
7McCartney Kessler44
8Elisabetta Cocciaretto46

Players to Watch

How to Watch – WTA Nottingham 2026Madison Keys 
Madison Keys returns to Eastbourne as a former champion and one of the most accomplished grass-court players in the field. Her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game are ideally suited to the quick conditions, making her one of the leading title contenders. 

Barbora Krejcikova 
Former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova possesses the all-court skills needed to excel on grass. Her ability to mix power with variety and finish points at the net makes her a dangerous opponent throughout the draw. 

Jelena Ostapenko 
Jelena Ostapenko's fearless attacking style can be particularly effective on grass courts. The Latvian thrives on taking the ball early and dictating rallies, giving her the potential to overpower opponents during a strong week. 

Daria Kasatkina 
Daria Kasatkina has enjoyed plenty of success at Devonshire Park, winning the title in 2024 after finishing runner-up the previous year. Her intelligent shot selection and comfort in Eastbourne's conditions make her a dangerous outsider once again.

How to Watch – WTA Eastbourne 2026

No cable? No problem. All you need is a betting account and a screen. WTA Eastbourne is streamed live in HD by top bookmakers — no extra subscription needed.

🎬 Quick Setup in 30 Seconds: 
1️⃣ Sign up at [Stake] or [bet365]
2️⃣ Deposit $1 or equivalent (no need to place a bet right away) 
3️⃣ Go to Live Tennis → WTA Eastbourne → Hit “Watch Live” 
That’s it. You’re watching Main Court live from anywhere. 

Verdict

Madison Keys and Barbora Krejcikova appear to be the standout contenders heading into this year's Eastbourne Open. Both have proven grass-court pedigree and possess the aggressive games needed to thrive in these fast conditions. 

For those seeking value further down the market, former champion Daria Kasatkina and the explosive Jelena Ostapenko are capable of making deep runs and should not be overlooked.

Best Bet1: Madison Keys Tournament Winner @320.00 at Stake.com - 3 Units
Best Bet2: Barbora Krejcikova Tournament Winner @500.00 at Stake.com - 2 Units
Best Bet3: Jelena Ostapenko Tournament Winner @1400.0 at Stake.com - 1 Unit
Best Bet4: Daria Kasatkina Tournament Winner @1000.0 at Stake.com - 1 Unit
Madison Keys
Tournament Winner
@320.00 - 3 Units
25 SC no deposit & 250,000 GC
Use promo code NEWBONUS

Get 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins when you sign up with code NEWBONUS at Stake.us. USA only. Excludes certain States including NY,NV,ID, KY,WA. 18+ only. Terms and Conditions apply.

Bet at Stake.com
Barbora Krejcikova
Tournament Winner
@500.00 - 2 Units
25 SC no deposit & 250,000 GC
Use promo code NEWBONUS

Get 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins when you sign up with code NEWBONUS at Stake.us. USA only. Excludes certain States including NY,NV,ID, KY,WA. 18+ only. Terms and Conditions apply.

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Jelena Ostapenko
Tournament Winner
@1400.0 - 1 Unit
25 SC no deposit & 250,000 GC
Use promo code NEWBONUS

Get 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins when you sign up with code NEWBONUS at Stake.us. USA only. Excludes certain States including NY,NV,ID, KY,WA. 18+ only. Terms and Conditions apply.

Bet at Stake.com
Daria Kasatkina
Tournament Winner
@1000.0 - 1 Unit
25 SC no deposit & 250,000 GC
Use promo code NEWBONUS

Get 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins when you sign up with code NEWBONUS at Stake.us. USA only. Excludes certain States including NY,NV,ID, KY,WA. 18+ only. Terms and Conditions apply.

Bet at Stake.com