Madison Keys overcomes Tatjana Maria to claim third Eastbourne title

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/keys-madison/QwU996PK/"]Keys[/a], seeded second, ignored sweltering temperatures on the south coast [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/keys-m-QwU996PK/maria-t-OGYNaUZG/?mid=tx6iHElf"]to see off the world number 112 in 93 minutes[/a].[/p][p]It was the 31-year-old's first title since she clinched her maiden Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open last year.[/p][embed guid="7d1a8405-61f7-406e-b185-4912a61c7b51" url="https://x.com/TennisChannel/status/2070851435038663168" social-type="twitter" /][p]Keys joins an illustrious group of three-time champions on the Eastbourne grass, alongside Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.[/p][p]In her first final since finishing as the Trophee Clarins runner-up in Paris in May, the world number 27 avenged a semi-final defeat against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maria-tatjana/OGYNaUZG/"]Maria[/a] on grass at Queen's Club last year.[/p][p]Keys' first WTA title came at Eastbourne 12 years ago and she won a second in 2023.[/p][p]She maintained her dominance at the event, securing an 11th title on the women's tour in her 16th career final.[/p][p]She was in charge throughout against the 38-year-old Maria and faced just one break point.[/p][embed guid="2eda9591-c42f-430f-9b65-1f43a3778638" url="https://x.com/TennisChannel/status/2070857972222222360" social-type="twitter" /][p]Having also won the Birmingham event 10 years ago, Keys now owns four career grass-court titles.[/p][p]It was the perfect preparation for Wimbledon, which starts on Monday, with Keys never managing to go beyond the quarter-finals at the All England Club.[/p][p]She will face compatriot Kayla Day in the first round on Tuesday.[/p]