The 2024 Eastbourne International (branded as the Rothesay International for sponsorship) was won by Taylor Fritz in the men’s singles and Daria Kasatkina in the women’s singles. Fritz made history as the first three-time champion of the event, defeating Max Purcell 6–4, 6–3 in the final, while Kasatkina secured her first grass-court title by overcoming Leylah Fernandez 6–3, 6–4. The tournament took place from June 24 to June 29, 2024, at the iconic Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, serving as a vital precursor to Wimbledon.
Event Overview and Significance
The Eastbourne International is a premier grass-court tournament that hosts both ATP 250 and WTA 500 events simultaneously. It is widely considered the final high-stakes tune-up for elite players before they head to the All England Club for Wimbledon.
In 2024, the tournament maintained its reputation for providing fast, low-bouncing grass courts that test players’ agility and serve-and-volley tactics. Beyond the ranking points, the event is cherished by fans for its intimate atmosphere and the close proximity to world-class athletes.
Men’s Singles: Fritz’s Historic Run
Taylor Fritz entered the 2024 tournament as the top seed and successfully lived up to the billing without dropping a single set. His victory against Australian qualifier Max Purcell in the final cemented his legacy as the most successful men’s player in the tournament’s history.
Fritz utilized his powerful serve and aggressive baseline play to dominate the field, including a challenging semifinal against Aleksandar Vukic. His three titles at Eastbourne (2019, 2022, and 2024) underscore his proficiency on grass surfaces.
Women’s Singles: Kasatkina’s Redemption
Daria Kasatkina captured the WTA 500 title in 2024, a year after finishing as the runner-up at the same venue. Her tactical variety and defensive grit allowed her to outmaneuver Leylah Fernandez in a high-quality final.
The women’s draw was particularly competitive, featuring top talents like Jasmine Paolini and Madison Keys. Kasatkina’s path to the trophy included a grueling three-set semifinal victory over Paolini, proving her physical endurance ahead of the Grand Slam season.
Doubles Results and Highlights
The doubles competitions at Eastbourne 2024 featured thrilling upsets and high-level teamwork. In the men’s draw, the duo of Neal Skupski and Michael Venus emerged victorious, defeating Matthew Ebden and John Peers in a closely contested final.
On the women’s side, Jeļena Ostapenko and Lyudmyla Kichenok claimed the title by defeating the top seeds, Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe. The victory highlighted Ostapenko’s dual-threat capability in both singles and doubles formats.
British Performance and Wildcards
British players enjoyed significant support from the home crowd, with several making deep runs in the tournament. Emma Raducanu was a major draw, reaching the quarterfinals before falling to the eventual champion, Daria Kasatkina.
Other notable British efforts included Billy Harris, who reached the semifinals in the men’s draw, and Harriet Dart, who also performed strongly in front of the local fans. These results provided a massive boost to British tennis morale heading into the summer.
Venue: Devonshire Park
The Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club has hosted tennis since the 1870s and is famous for having some of the best grass courts in the world. Its location in the coastal town of Eastbourne provides a unique seaside backdrop for professional sport.
The venue features several show courts, with Centre Court offering an intimate viewing experience where fans are never far from the action. The lush greenery and traditional English garden aesthetic make it a favorite destination for international tourists.
Tournament dates and format
Eastbourne Tennis 2024 ran from 22 to 29 June, with qualifying on the weekend of 22–23 June and main‑draw matches from Monday 24 June through to Saturday 29 June. The main singles events started on 24 June, with the first round taking place over Monday and Tuesday, followed by second‑round matches on Wednesday. Quarter‑finals were played on Thursday, 27 June, with semi‑finals on Friday, 28 June, and both men’s and women’s singles finals on Saturday, 29 June.
The tournament used a 28‑player singles draw in the WTA 500 event, with the top four seeds receiving a bye into the second round, while the men’s ATP 250 side had a similar but slightly different structure aligned with ATP rules. Both men’s and women’s doubles main draws contained 16 teams, with two wild‑card pairs allowed in each, and the doubles finals were scheduled after the singles finals on Saturday.
Draw size and seed structure
The women’s singles draw at Eastbourne Tennis 2024 featured 28 entrants, combining direct acceptances, qualifying‑round graduates, and wild‑card entries. The top four seeds were given first‑round byes, meaning they started their campaigns in the second round, which helped balance the schedule and reduce fatigue before Wimbledon.
In addition to seeded players, the draw included four wild cards and six qualifiers, selected via a separate weekend qualifying competition on 22–23 June. The doubles fields for both tours comprised 16 teams, with two wild‑card pairings in each, often used to give local or home‑nation doubles teams a chance to feature on the main courts.
Venue: Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club
Eastbourne Tennis 2024 was hosted at the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, a long‑standing grass‑court venue in the seaside town of Eastbourne, in East Sussex, England. The club’s main courts, including the 8,000‑seat Centre Court, offer a classic grass‑court look with a more relaxed, festival‑style vibe compared with the strict formality of Wimbledon.
The venue is set within the larger Devonshire Park sports and leisure complex, which includes multiple outdoor grass courts, hospitality areas, and fan zones, providing plenty of space for spectators to move between matches. The Centre Court is the focal point for the later‑round matches, while outside courts allow fans to watch multiple matches simultaneously, which is ideal for those exploring the full Eastbourne Tennis 2024 experience.
Atmosphere and crowd size
Eastbourne Tennis 2024 regularly drew several thousand spectators per day, with Centre‑Court matches often close to capacity, especially on the final weekend. The seaside location and relatively affordable ticketing compared with other UK grass‑swing events helped fill the stands, creating a lively but still family‑friendly environment.
The tournament tends to emphasize its “grass‑court festival” identity, with food stalls, bars, and on‑site entertainment adding to the on‑day ambience. Fans can expect a mix of casual local supporters, touring tennis tourists, and dedicated followers of the top players, which makes the Eastbourne 2024 week feel both accessible and high‑level.
Player field and headline stars
The 2024 Eastbourne Tennis field was notable for attracting a strong mix of elite players using the event as a final Wimbledon preparation. The women’s side included top‑10 stars such as world‑No. 4 Elena Rybakina, fourth‑seeded Jessica Pegula, and third‑seed Jasmine Paolini, alongside defending champion Madison Keys, who headed the women’s singles field as the fourth seed.
On the men’s side, the ATP 250 draw featured several high‑ranked players looking to fine-tune their grass‑court form, with the singles final contested by Taylor Fritz and Arthur Fils in 2024. The combined nature of the tournament meant fans could see both tours in the same grounds, sometimes with overlapping sessions on different courts, which is one of Eastbourne’s main unique selling points.
Why Eastbourne matters for Wimbledon prep
Eastbourne Tennis 2024 is widely regarded as a key Wimbledon‑warm‑up because it uses the same grass‑court surface and the same official Slazenger Wimbledon ball as the All‑England Club, giving players a near‑identical match experience. The timing of the event, immediately before the start of the Wimbledon Championships, also allows players to acclimatize to grass‑court conditions, ball‑speed, and match‑pace without the extra travel burden of moving across multiple countries.
Because of this, many top seeds and Slams contenders prefer to enter Eastbourne rather than skip a grass‑court event altogether, using the competition to test fitness, tactics, and combinations with doubles partners before arriving at the All‑England Club. The 2024 edition continued that tradition, with multiple Wimbledon‑bound stars choosing Eastbourne as their last grass‑court tune‑up.
Singles and doubles structure
In the women’s singles at Eastbourne Tennis 2024, the 28‑player draw progressed through the standard knockout format: first round, second round, quarter‑finals, semi‑finals, and final, with the top four seeds entering at the second‑round stage. Matches were played in best‑of‑three sets, with tie‑breaks at 6–6 in each set and a standard advantage‑scoring system, aligning with other WTA grass‑court events.
The men’s singles followed the ATP‑250 format, with a 28‑player main draw progressing through the same stages, and the final on Saturday, 29 June, broadcast as the headline match of the week. Both men’s and women’s doubles competitions featured 16‑team draws, with the winners receiving trophies and ranking points commensurate with the ATP 250 and WTA 500 levels.
Tie‑break rules and protocols
Eastbourne Tennis 2024 applied standard tie‑break rules at 6–6 in each set, rather than the extended final‑set formats seen at other tournaments. For both men’s and women’s events, third sets finished with a conventional tie‑break at 6–6, which helped keep match times manageable and schedules on track.
If the deciding set reached 6–6, the tie‑break was played to seven points, with the first player or team to reach seven points, by at least a two‑point margin, winning the set and match. This approach prioritized player safety and fan experience, ensuring that late‑day matches did not overrun into the evening too often and that television coverage could stick to planned time slots.
Prize money and ranking points
The 2024 Eastbourne Tennis event carried a combined prize‑money pot of around 922,573 dollars, with the women’s WTA 500 component and the men’s ATP 250 element sharing the funding structure. The exact split between men and women followed the governing bodies’ standard formulas for the 500 and 250 tiers, with slightly higher shares for the singles champions and progressively lower amounts for earlier‑round losers.
Both men’s and women’s singles champions earned a significant payout and a full set of ranking points for their respective tours, making Eastbourne an attractive target for players who want to protect or improve their season‑end standings. The doubles champions also received a notable prize, though it was smaller than the singles rewards, with the rest of the doubles field earning points and fees based on how far they advanced.
How players benefit beyond money
Beyond the prize money, Eastbourne Tennis 2024 offered players valuable ranking points that could influence Wimbledon seeding and later‑season scheduling advantages. Strong performances in Eastbourne helped high‑ranked players either defend or gain points, while lower‑ranked entrants used the grass‑swing event to push for better‑placed draws in future tournaments.
Positive results at Eastbourne could also boost players’ confidence before Wimbledon, especially if they won a title or reached a deep run on the same type of grass and with the same ball they would face at the All‑England Club. For younger or unseeded players, a big‑name scalp or a surprise title run in Eastbourne 2024 could serve as a springboard for greater media and sponsorship attention.
Ticketing and prices for Eastbourne 2024
Tickets for Eastbourne Tennis 2024 were sold through the tournament’s official channels, including the club’s website and partner ticketing platforms, with most sales running on a “first‑come, first‑served” basis for the main‑draw days. General‑admission seating and grandstand tickets started in the mid‑teens to low‑twenties in pound equivalents, with premium or hospitality packages costing significantly more, especially for the final‑day sessions.
Pricing varied by day, with weekday daytime sessions typically cheaper than weekend or evening matches, and Centre‑Court tickets more expensive than tickets for outside courts. Fans could also buy multi‑day packages or hospitality bundles that included food, drinks, and access to designated lounges, which were popular among corporate groups and repeat visitors to the event.
How to buy tickets
Those wishing to attend Eastbourne Tennis 2024 were advised to check the official Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club and Rothesay International websites closer to the event window, where fixtures, seat‑maps, and pricing tiers were published. Independent ticket‑guides and local‑media pieces often linked to the club’s official ticketing portal, emphasizing that third‑party sellers could carry higher risks and sometimes inflated prices.
Ticketing typically opened several months ahead of the tournament, with early‑bird windows and membership‑holder or loyalty‑scheme access giving some fans priority over the general public. For the 2024 edition, strict on‑day‑ticket rules meant that many sections were sold out in advance, particularly for the final weekend, so fans were encouraged to book early if they wanted Centre‑Court access.
Schedule and daily breakdown
Eastbourne Tennis 2024 followed a tight six‑day schedule from Monday 24 June to Saturday 29 June, with qualifying matches taking place over the weekend prior. Qualifying rounds were held on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June, with multiple matches on the outside courts to determine the six qualifiers who joined the main‑draw fields.
From Monday 24 June, the main draws began in earnest, with early‑round matches starting at 11:00 a.m. local time on most days. The second round took place on Wednesday 26 June, followed by the quarter‑finals on Thursday 27 June and the semi‑finals on Friday 28 June. The headline attraction, the women’s singles final, was scheduled for Saturday 29 June at 12:30 p.m., with the men’s singles final and both doubles finals following later that day.
Session times and court usage
On each day, Eastbourne Tennis 2024 generally ran morning and afternoon sessions, with the first matches starting at 11:00 a.m. and the last matches finishing in the early or mid‑evening, depending on weather and the number of matches. Centre Court hosted the headline clashes, including the seeds’ early‑round ties and the later‑round knockout matches, while the outside courts were used for early‑round and doubles fixtures.
Fans visiting the venue could usually move between courts during stoppages, allowing them to watch multiple matches in a single day. Officials and stewards managed the flow of spectators to avoid overcrowding on any single court, and many fans created their own “itinerary” by planning which matches to watch on Centre Court and which to follow on the outside courts.
How to get there and transport
Eastbourne Tennis 2024 was held at the Devonshire Park complex in the town center of Eastbourne, which is easily accessible by car, train, and local bus services. Visitors from London and the wider South East could reach the town by train in roughly 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the service, with Eastbourne Station located a short walk from the seafront and the park.
From the station, several bus routes and a short walk along the promenade or inland streets led directly to the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club and the main tournament gates. The town’s compact layout made it easy to combine a day at the tournament with a stroll along the seafront, a visit to the pier, or a meal at one of the nearby restaurants.
Parking and congestion
On‑site parking at Devonshire Park was limited, so drivers were encouraged to use town‑center or nearby pay‑and‑display car parks or park‑and‑ride options where available. The busiest days, especially the final weekend, often saw heavier traffic and longer parking wait times, so planning arrival at least 60–90 minutes before the first match was recommended.
For those avoiding the stress of driving, the train plus a short walk or local bus ride proved a faster and more predictable travel option, particularly on weekday afternoons when traffic could be light but trains still frequent. Hospitality and corporate‑guest arrangements often included dedicated drop‑off and valet‑style services, reducing the hassle for groups attending on business or special‑occasion tickets.
What to expect as a visitor
Attending Eastbourne Tennis 2024 offered a mix of high‑level tennis, seaside atmosphere, and family‑friendly facilities. The Centre Court experience felt intimate yet grand, with good sightlines and the kind of grass‑court ambiance that many fans associate with the British summer season.
Inside the grounds, visitors could explore food and drink stalls, merchandise booths, and interactive fan‑zones that sometimes included player‑signing sessions, autograph areas, or junior‑tennis activity zones. The laid‑back vibe of the seaside town complemented the on‑court action, making it possible to combine a match day with a coastal walk, ice‑cream stop, or a meal at one of Eastbourne’s many seafront eateries.
Tips for first‑time visitors
First‑time visitors to Eastbourne Tennis 2024 should arrive early to pick up tickets, find their seats, and familiarize themselves with the layout of the park and the various courts. Bringing sun protection such as a hat, sunscreen, and a light jacket or scarf is wise, as coastal weather can change quickly, even on warm days.
Wearing comfortable shoes is also important, because the venue can involve a fair amount of walking between courts and facilities. Staying hydrated and checking the schedule before the day began helped fans maximize their time watching different matches, especially on days when they had general‑admission or multi‑court tickets.
Seasonal and weather context
Eastbourne Tennis 2024 took place in late June, at the peak of the UK grass‑court season and just before Wimbledon, when sea‑level temperatures in the South East typically sit in the high teens to low‑twenties Celsius. The coastal location meant that visitors often experienced breezy conditions, which could influence ball travel and serve‑speed feel, something both players and fans had to factor in.
Rain and overcast skies were always possible, so organizers kept courts and arenas covered where necessary and sometimes applied roof‑protect or extended‑session protocols to keep the schedule on track. When conditions were good, however, the light and air quality often produced picture‑book grass‑court scenes, with the South Coast sun and the sound of the sea adding to the event’s distinctive atmosphere.
Impact on match play
The weather at Eastbourne Tennis 2024 could subtly alter the nature of rallies, with wind occasionally making low‑grass‑court slices and drop‑shots more unpredictable and encouraging players to favor deeper, more controlled groundstrokes. The softer summer light also helped reduce glare on the grass, which many fans and broadcasters appreciated compared with high‑noon brightness in hotter tennis climates.
For players coming off clay‑court events or indoor‑surface seasons, Eastbourne’s combination of grass, ball‑speed, and maritime conditions served as an ideal test of adaptability, reinforcing the tournament’s status as a genuine Wimbledon‑prep gateway rather than a purely symbolic warm‑up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the biggest surprise of Eastbourne 2024?
The most notable surprise was Max Purcell, an Australian qualifier who fought through the draw to reach the men’s final. His run demonstrated the depth of talent in the qualifying rounds and the volatility of grass-court tennis.
How did the British wildcards perform in the later rounds?
British tennis saw a strong showing with Emma Raducanu reaching the quarterfinals and Billy Harris reaching the semifinals. Their performances provided significant local momentum and suggested a bright future for British depth on grass.
What was the weather impact on the 2024 finals?
The 2024 finals day was successfully completed without major rain interruptions, allowing the grass to remain at its fastest and most consistent for the championship matches.
Was 2024 the most successful year for Taylor Fritz at Eastbourne?
Statistically, yes. Not only did he win his third title, but he did so without dropping a single set throughout the entire tournament, showcasing a level of dominance rarely seen in ATP 250 events.
Is the Eastbourne 2024 champion expected to return for 2025?
While player entries are finalized closer to the event, Taylor Fritz has historically favored Eastbourne as his preferred Wimbledon warm-up, making a 2025 return to defend his crown highly likely.
Final Thoughts
The tournament’s conclusion was defined by Taylor Fritz becoming the first man ever to win the Eastbourne title three times (2019, 2022, 2024). This achievement elevates him into an exclusive tier of American grass-court specialists and suggests a long-term dominance at Devonshire Park that may not be challenged for years. On the women’s side, Daria Kasatkina ended a frustrating streak of finals losses, proving that her tactical variety is a potent weapon on lawn tennis surfaces.
For the tournament itself, 2024 reaffirmed its position as the premier “boutique” event on the calendar. Despite the presence of larger venues in London and Germany, Eastbourne’s ability to attract top-10 talent like Jasmine Paolini and Jessica Pegula ensures it remains the definitive final checkpoint for players seeking a high-confidence entry into the Wimbledon draw.
To Read More: Manchester Independent