Daria Kasatkina Begins Title Defense at Eastbourne Open as British Hopes Ride on Wildcards

Jakarta — The 2025 Eastbourne Open is officially underway, with top seed Daria Kasatkina kicking off her title defense in the women’s draw. The Russian star returns to the south coast of England after claiming the trophy here last year, and enters the tournament as the player to beat on grass.

Kasatkina, ranked No. 11 in the world, brings strong form into Eastbourne and will look to fine-tune her grass-court rhythm ahead of Wimbledon.

British hopes are alive on both the men’s and women’s sides, led by wildcard entries Dan Evans and Francesca Jones. Evans, known for his gritty playing style, will look to rebound from recent early-round exits. Meanwhile, Jones, returning from injury, is aiming to make the most of her opportunity in front of home fans.

The Eastbourne Open serves as one of the final tune-ups before Wimbledon, attracting a competitive field looking for momentum on the grass. All eyes will be on whether Kasatkina can repeat her 2024 triumph — or if home favorites can deliver a surprise run.