The Eastbourne Open has been present on the WTA circuit for the best part of 53 years.
The event was first won by 18-time major singles champion Chris Evert: she defeated Virginia Wade in the 1974 final.
Around 23 years after the first Eastbourne edition was held, a rather unique situation occurred.
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For the first time in tournament history, the final of the women’s singles event was not concluded.
Jana Novotná and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario ended up sharing the Eastbourne title.
The 1997 Eastbourne Open title was shared after heavy rainfall
Jana Novotná and Aranxta Sanchez Vicario both walked onto the Eastbourne Open Centre Court in 1997 expecting a victor to be determined by the end of the day’s play.
However, the weather had other ideas.
The event had already been delayed by frequent showers throughout the week, forcing organisers to extend the event into Saturday.
Novotna led Vicario 6-5 in the first set of the final when the Czech player [pictured below] walked off court, complaining about the slippery court and circling storm-clouds.
As reported by the Independent, five hours passed before tournament organisers called time on the contest.
The title was consequently shared between the two players for the first and only time in tournament history.
Later that year, Novotna defeated Sanchez Vicario 6-4, 6-2 in the Wimbledon semi-finals.
Novotna went on to lose in the final to Martina Hingis.
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Who are the defending Eastbourne Open champions?
Maya Joint, who has endured a difficult season on the WTA Tour, is the defending women’s singles champion in Eastbourne.
Joint saved multiple match points before beating Alexandra Eala 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 in the final.
“I’m very happy right now, feeling very relieved as well,” Joint said during her post-match speech. “It was a very difficult match, I’m proud of myself for coming back and staying in the match. I’m glad I was able to find a way back.
“Alex played really well today, she definitely tested me and after the first set she got very aggressive with her balls.
Eala later described the loss as ‘one of the toughest losses of my early career.’
On the men’s side, Taylor Fritz secured a record-extending fourth Eastbourne Open title after beating compatriot Jenson Brooksby in the final.
