Billy Harris beaten by Max Purcell as hopes of maiden ATP final dashed in Eastbourne International
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Published 28/06/2024 at 20:24 GMT
Billy Harris’ hopes of reaching his first ATP final were ended by Max Purcell in the last four of the Eastbourne International. The British player was beaten 6-4 4-6 6-4 in two hours and 15 minutes as Purcell set up a clash with Taylor Fritz in the final. In the women’s draw, Leylah Fernandez beat defending champion Madison Keys and will take on last year’s finalist Daria Kasatkina for the title.
Highlights as Harris’ Eastbourne run ends at the hands of Purcell in semi-finals
Britain’s Billy Harris was denied a place in his first ATP final after losing in the last four of the Eastbourne International to Max Purcell.
The 29-year-old broke new ground at the tournament by reaching his first ATP semi-final following a victory over Italy’s Flavio Cobolli but had his run ended by Australia’s Purcell.
It was a close encounter but after two hours and 15 minutes on court, the Brit was eventually beaten 6-4 4-6 6-4.
Purcell, ranked 45 places above Harris in the rankings, started the brighter of the two, forging a break point in the opening game of the match. Harris survived to hold but lost serve two games later despite some outstanding defence.
That proved decisive as Purcell looked assured behind his own serve to take a one-set advantage.
Harris saved five break points in the second before finding a breakthrough of his own at a crucial moment.
Leading 5-4, Harris struck on his second break point of the game and match to send the contest to a decider.
But it was Purcell who came up with the goods in the third set. He broke to lead 2-1 and then saved two immediate break-back points before going on to complete a hard-fought victory and earn a spot in his first ATP Tour final.
He will go for a maiden title against two-time Eastbourne champion Taylor Fritz, who completed a 7-6(5) 7-6(4) victory over Aleksandar Vukic.
It was the second match in a row the No. 1 seed had to come through in two tie-breaks and he will now attempt to claim an eighth career ATP title.
The match against Australia’s Vukic was a tight affair from start to finish and did not feature a single break.
Fritz spurned a set point at 5-4 in the opener before coming through a tight tie-break to clinch the early initiative.
Four break opportunities came and went for the American in the second before Vukic failed to convert a set point at 6-5 as Fritz survived and then prevailed in his fifth tie-break of the tournament.
Fernandez to meet Kasatkina in women's final
In the women’s singles, Leylah Fernandez will meet Daria Kasatkina in Saturday’s final after beating defending champion Madison Keys in three sets.
The Canadian ended the hopes of Britain’s Harriet Dart in the quarter-finals and produced a brilliant performance to clinch a 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory over fourth-seed Keys.
Both players enjoyed plenty of success on the other’s serve in a match which featured seven breaks, but it was the 2021 US Open finalist who eventually prevailed.
She raced into a 3-0 lead in the opener and broke back immediately after losing her serve in the fifth game before a love hold saw her take the first set.
Keys responded in the second to move 3-0 ahead but was pegged back to 3-3 before reeling off three games in a row to draw level.
The pattern continued in the decider as Fernandez won the first three games with a single break before there was drama at the death.
Serving for the match at 5-3, Fernandez saved four break points to book her spot in a sixth career WTA final.
In the other semi-final, Kasatkina came from a set down to get the better of French Open finalist Jasmine Paolini.
The sixth seed, who knocked out Emma Raducanu in the previous round, cut a frustrated figure in dropping the first set but recovered well in the second.
After staving off early break points, she broke Paolini at 6-5 to set up a decider and then finished strong to secure victory.
From 2-0 down in the third set, she won six of the next seven games to reach the Eastbourne final for a second successive year.
“On grass, everything can change in any moment, so I was trying to be focused on each point and fight until the end against a great player who's playing incredible this year,” Kasatkina said.
On facing Fernandez in the final, she added: “Grass suits Leylah very good. Her game, she's a very aggressive player, always trying to stay inside [the court].
“She's in great form now, beat very good players this week. In the finals, everyone wants to win, so I'll just go and try to enjoy myself, and let's see how this final is going to turn out.”
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