The 2018 Nature Valley International has been an absolute scorcher, jam-packed with a week-long heatwave, phenomenal fans and sensational performances! Check out five of our favourite moments from Eastbourne…
1. A winning return
Hot on the heels of making his return to the stage just last week at the Fever-Tree Championships, Andy Murray made his way to Eastbourne for the first time since he made a surprise County Cup appearance in 2009. Before then, he captured his maiden Davis Cup singles win aged 19.
Three Grand Slam titles and a Davis Cup trophy on, he enjoyed further triumph at Devonshire Park as he sailed past fellow wild card Stan Wawrinka 6-1, 6-3 to earn his first victory since his comeback to the ATP World Tour.
It’s fair to say, it looks like there was no love lost between the two champs...
2. Budding Brits
Rising Harriet Dart and Jay Clarke gave home fans plenty to cheer for as they celebrated career milestones in Eastbourne.
21-year-old Dart battled past Krystina Pliskova, ranked 103 places higher, to secure her maiden WTA win and Clarke sailed past world No.58 Ryan Harrison in straight sets to seal his first ATP World Tour victory.
3. Kyle Edmund fever
Kyle Edmund’s fearhand was out in full force as he clinched his first victory over Davis Cup team-mate Andy Murray. The British No.1 put on a gutsy performance to defeat Murray 6-4, 6-4 and reach his maiden Nature Valley International quarter-final.
Ahead of his final-eight clash with Mikhail Kukushkin, there was no masking the incredible home support from fans…
4. Doubles delight
Nothing beats that winning feeling, but victory tasted even sweeter for Luke Bambridge and Jonny O’Mara as they teamed up to claim their first ATP World Tour title.
The pair defeated Stuttgart champions Dom Inglot and Franko Skugor, top seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, and Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Robert Lindstedt to set up an all-British final against brothers Ken and Neal Skupski. They maintained their epic form and went on win 7-5, 6-4 to lift the trophy.
5. Wonderful Wozniacki and Mischa's milestone
2018 marked Caroline Wozniacki's tenth appearance at Devonshire Park and she certainly rose to the occasion! The world No.2 recorded her 50th grass court victory with a three-set win over Eastbourne's own Johanna Konta, clinched her 25th victory at the tournament with a straight sets defeat over Ashleigh Barty and reclaimed the trophy she won once before in 2009.
At the start of the tournament, she went along to an ice cream sundae masterclass with quarter-finalist Denis Shapovalov and needless to say, she whipped up a recipe for success...
Mischa Zverev also had a week to remember as he captured his maiden ATP World Tour title. The German was on fire throughout and defeated Nicolas Jarry, seventh seed Steve Johnson, third seed Denis Shapovalov, Mikhail Kukushkin and Lukas Lacko en route to triumph.
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Get ahead of the game and secure your seat for next year! Tickets for the 2019 Nature Valley International and all other British Tennis grass court events are on sale now and can be purchased online.
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