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In the last week before the 2023 Wimbledon tournament, some of the best players from both the ATP and WTA tour will compete at the Eastbourne International tournament held at the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club in Eastbourne. The tournament is classified as an ATP 250 and WTA 500 event. It is one of the most prestigious events on grass and is considered as the preparation tournament for Wimbledon.
The tournament was established in 1974, and until 2009, it was only a ladies’ event. This year 32 singles players in both gentlemen’s and ladies’ tournaments will participate, just as the 16 doubles in both competitions. The usual seeding system is implemented in Eastbourne, and we will take a look at the Rothesay International Seeds in both competitions.
ATP Eastbourne International Seeds
(1) Taylor Fritz
The ATP Eastbourne defending champion Taylor Fritz was stunned in his opening match of the tournament losing to Mackenzie McDonald 7-6, 7-6 in the round of 16. The world No. 8 had a couple of set points in the second set, but he failed to convert and faced an early exit. Fritz is the highest-ranked US player at the moment. Fritz is 35-14 for the season and 2-2 on grass. Fritz won the Delray Beach, his only title so far in the season.
- Round of 16: Loss to McDonald 7-6, 7-6
(2) Tommy Paul
Tommy Paul will have a chance to play for his second career title after a semifinal straight set win over Gregoire Barrere. He had a much tougher task in the quarterfinal defeating the fellow American JJ Wolf in the decisive tie break. He had a solid start of the tournament defeating Sebastian Baez 6-1, 7-6 in the round of 16 match. Paul is enjoying the highest ranking in his career, being No. 25 in the world. He is 26-14 for the season and 5-2 on grass. Last year at Eastbourne, Paul lost in the quarterfinal. At the Australian Open this year, he reached the first Grand Slam semifinal of his career.
- Semifinal: Win vs Barrere 6-4, 6-3
- Quarterfinals: Win vs Wolf 6-4, 4-6, 7-6
- Round of 16: Win vs Baez 6-1, 7-6
(3) Francisco Cerundolo
The Argentinian turned things around in the semifinal match against Mackenzie McDonald winning 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 in 2 hours and 7 minutes of play. The Argentinian will play Tommy Paul for his second career title. Cerundolo had a quite easy task in the quarterfinals defeating Zhizhen Zhang 6-2, 6-3 to book a place in his first ever semifinal on grass court. Previously, the world No. 19 defeated Marc Andrea Huesler by 7-6, 7-6 in the round of 16. The Argentinian is 26-16 for the season and 3-1 on grass.
- Semifinal: Win vs McDonald 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
- Quarterfinals: Win vs Zhang 6-2, 6-3
- Round of 16: Win vs Huesler 7-6, 7-6
(4) Nicolas Jarry
Jarry is having the best season in his career but that did not help him in his first match in Eastbourne. He was the favorite against Gregoire Barrere, but the Frenchman won the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. The Chilean reached the highest career ranking, currently at No. 28. He is 27-12 for the season and 2-2 on grass. Jarry returned to Eastbourne for the first time since 2019. This season, he won two titles – in Geneve and Santiago.
- Round of 16: Loss vs Barrere 3-6, 6-4, 4-6
(5) Tomas Martin Etcheverry
The Argentinian stood no chance in the opening round against JJ Wolf. The lack of experience playing on grass courts took its toll and Etcheverry can start preparing for Wimbledon. He made a name for himself after reaching the Roland Garros quarterfinal earlier this season. He is currently 30th in the ATP rankings and has a 26-15 record and is about to play his first match on grass this season.
- First round: Loss to JJ Wolf 2-6, 4-6
(6) Lorenzo Sonego
Sonego was one of the dark horse candidates to win in Eastbourne but the Italian failed in the openinf round to Zhizhen Zhang 7-6, 6-3. Sonego is No. 39 in the ATP rankings and came in the tournament with a 17-16 record, including 2-2 on grass. In 2021, Sonego reached the final in Eastbourne, losing to Alex de Minaur.
- First round: Loss to Zhang 7-6, 6-3
(7) Miomir Kecmanovic
The Serbian had a great chance to have the best tournament of the season but lost in the quarterfinals 7-5, 7-6 to Gregoire Barrere. Previously he defeated Yibing Wu 7-6, 7-6 in the opening round and then went past Aleksandar Vukic by 7-6, 6-4. The Serbian is ranked No. 40 in the world. He has a 17-18 record for the season and has 2-1 on grass.
- Quarterfinal: Loss vs Barrere 5-7, 6-7
- Round of 16: Win vs Vukic 7-6, 6-4
- First round: Win vs Wu 7-6, 7-6
(8) Botic Van Den Zandschulp
The Dutchman became the 8th seed after Alex de Minaur withdrew from the tournament. Anyway that did not help him a lot as he lost in the opener 6-3, 4-6, 2-6 to Mikael Ymer. Van Den Zandschulp is 42nd in the ATP rankings.
- First round: Loss to Ymer 6-3, 4-6, 2-6
WTA Eastbourne International Seeds
(1) Elena Rybakina
Rybakina was projected to be the top seed in the tournament, but she withdrew right before it began. She is having an excellent season with a 33-8 record and 1-1 on grass, which has put her at No. 3 in the world, her highest career ranking. Her best result in Eastbourne was the semifinal in 2021. This season, she has won 2 titles – in Rome and Indian Wells.
(2) Caroline Garcia
Garcia emerged as the top favorite of the tournament but had to retire in the quarterfinal match against Darya Kasatkina due to an injury. The world No. 4 did not lose a set against Madison Brengle and Ana Bogdan in the previous rounds. Garcia is 27-14 for the season and 4-2 on grass.
- Quarterfinal: Retired vs Kasatkina 6-2, 2-1
- Round of 16: Win vs Bogdan 6-3, 6-4
- First round: Win vs Brengle 6-1, 7-5
(3) Jessica Pegula
The American returned to action for the first time since Roland Garros and failed short in the quarterfinal to Coco Gauff. Previously, Pegula defeated Qinwen Zheng 6-3, 6-4 and then Calila Osorio 6-2, 1-6, 3-6. Pegula is 31-11 for the season and 2-1 on grass.
- Quarterfinals: Loss vs Gauff 3-6, 3-6
- Round of 16: Win vs Bogdan 6-3, 6-4
- First round: Win vs Brengle 6-1, 7-5
(4) Ons Jabeur
Last year’s Wimbledon finalist had a disappointing performance in Eastbourne. After defeating Jasmine Paolini in the opening round, whe failed 6-3, 6-2 to Camila Georgi in the round of 16. The Tunisian is now 16-9 for the season 1-2 on grass.
- Round of 16: Loss vs Georgi 3-6, 2-6
- First round: Paolini 6-3, 6-2
(5) Coco Gauff
The 19-year-old has been amazing so far in the tournament. First, she defeated Bernarda Pera 6-3, 6-2 and then went past the fan favorite Jodie Burrage 6-1, 6-1. The world No. 7 kept playing well and defeated Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals 6-3, 6-3. Gauff will play the 014 WTA Eastborune champion, Madison Keys in the semifinals.
- Quarterfinals: Win vs Pegula 6-3, 6-3
- Round of 16: Win vs Burrage 6-1, 6-1
- First round: Win vs Pera 6-3, 6-2
(6) Maria Sakkari
Sakakri withdrew from the tournament before the start. The Greek is No. 8 in the world. She has a 24-13 record for the season and 4-2 on grass. She has never made it past the second round in her previous three appearances in Eastbourne and has lost all five semifinals this season.
(7) Petra Kvitova
After winning last week in Berlin, the two-time Wimbledon champion and the defending Eastbourne champion, decided to withdraw from the tournament.
(8) Beatriz Haddad Maia
The Brazilian recently made it to the Top 10 in the WTA rankings for the first time in her career. She came with high hopes in Eastbourne but unfortunatelly retired in the round of 16 against Petra Martic. Previously, he got to a tough three-set win over Marie Bouzkova.
- Round of 16: Retired vs Martic
- First round: Win vs Bouzkova 3-6, 6-3, 7-6
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