American Taylor Fritz becomes first man ever to win Eastbourne three times

Taylor Fritz has defeated Max Purcell, 6-4, 6-3, to win the Rothesay International in Eastbourne for the third time in his career, having previously triumphed at the grass-court event in 2019 and 2022.

And it was historic: the American is the first man in the 29-year history of the tournament to win the trophy three times.

MOST TITLES IN EASTBOURNE HISTORY (men):
3: Taylor Fritz [2019, 2022, 2024]
2: Greg Rusedski [1997, 2003]
2: Jonas Bjorkman [1998, 2002]
2: Richard Gasquet [2005, 2006]
2: Ivo Karlovic [2007, 2008]
2: Feliciano Lopez [2013, 2014]

The ATP 250-level grass-court event has been held 16 times in Nottingham, from 1995 to 2008 then 2015 to 2016, and now 13 years in Eastbourne, from 2009 to 2014, 2017 to 2019 and 2021 to 2024.

Fritz never dropped serve en route to the final, holding all 35 of his service games during wins earlier in the week against Thiago Seyboth Wild, Shang Juncheng and Aleksandar Vukic. And his flawless serving continued against Purcell as he held all 10 of his service games in the final—never even facing a break point.

That’s 45 service games, 45 holds for Fritz in Eastbourne this year.

The American broke the Australian once per set in the final—in the very last game of the first set, then for a 4-2 lead in the second set, after which the two held serve until it was all over.

He not only captured his third Eastbourne crown and the eighth overall ATP title of his career, but he’ll now regain his status as the American men’s No. 1, rising from No. 13 to No. 12 when the new ATP rankings come out, switching spots with Tommy Paul.