Kasatkina fights back to beat Paolini and return to Eastbourne final

Daria Kasatkina recovered from a set down to beat the in-form Jasmine Paolini 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 and return to the final of the Rothesay International.

Kasatkina lost in last year’s showpiece to Madison Keys, but finds herself with a second chance to take the title in Eastbourne after Leylah Fernandez took out the defending champion earlier in the day.

The result means that there will be a new champion at the Devonshire Park Lawn Club as Kasatkina takes on the Canadian in tomorrow’s final.

Paolini was the brighter of the two today throughout much of the first half of the contest, taking the first set after each player exchanged two breaks before the Italian struck again at the death to move into a one-set lead.

The Italian was in excellent form with her net play operating particularly well, but it was Kasatkina who found a way to turn the match on its head, stealing that second stanza with a late break in the eleventh game.

Kasatkina then found herself a break down again early in the decider before breaking back and striking again in the sixth game before serving out an impressive win.

Kasatkina, ranked No 14, will play Canadian Leylah Fernandez next.

Earlier in the tournament, the Russian beat Chinese Xinyu Wang (6-4, 6-2), Chinese Yue Yuan (3-6, 6-4, 6-0) and wildcard Emma Raducanu (6-2, 6-2).

Paolini, ranked No 7, benefited from the abandonment of Belgian Elise Mertens (5-2) and won against Katie Boulter (6-1, 7-6) in the previous rounds of the Eastbourne tournament.

Eastbourne WTA 500, other semi-final result (Devonshire Park Lawn Club, grass, USD 922.573):

• Leylah Fernandez beat Madison Keys (4): 6-3, 3-6, 6-3