"WHAT A WAY TO END PRIDE MONTH";"BRAVE WOMAN DESPITE TOXIC SOCIETY" - FANS DELIGHTED BY DARIA KASATKINA'S TITLE TRIUMPH AT EASTBOURNE

Daria Kasatkina registered a 6-3, 6-4 win over Leylah Fernandez to win the 2024 Rothesay International in Eastbourne. The Russian's title triumph delighted tennis fans.

Kasatkina reached the Eastbourne final after getting past Wang Xinyu, Yuan Yue, Emma Raducanu, and 2024 French Open finalist Jasmine Paolini. Fernandez, meanwhile, made her way to the final with wins over Barbora Krejcikova, Ashlyn Krueger, Harriet Dart, and Madison Keys.

Coming into the final, Kasatkina's record at WTA Tour level finals this year was a dismal 0-3. However, the No. 6 seeded Russian was at her best against Fernandez, leveraging her terrific all-court and crafty style of play to devastating effect. The Canadian struggled to hold serve, and even when she did, Kasatkina made her work for it.

Ultimately, it was the Russian who emerged victorious, winning her first title on the WTA Tour since the 2022 Granby National Bank Championships. It also marked Kasatkina's maiden title on grass and her seventh WTA Tour-level title.

Tennis fans on X (formerly Twitter) were ecstatic with Kasatkina's achievement, with one set of them lauding the Russian for being one of the bravest players in modern-day tennis. Kasatkina has often spoken up about sensitive sociopolitical issues in the past, a stark contrast to most of her peers, who tend to, more often than not, provide politically correct opinions.

"Love her. Brave woman despite toxic society," one fan wrote.

"I LOVE Daria Kasatkina, not just as a player but for being the only brave Russian in either WTA or ATP Tour. She is such a great human being. Congrats to her!!!" another fan commented.

"MY CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!! Daria Kasatkina ON FIRE this week!!!!!!!!!!!" another fan chimed in.

Another set of fans hailed the symbolic nature of Kasatkina's win during Pride Month. The Russian came out as lesbian in 2022. After winning against Fernandez in Eastbourne, she immediately made her way to partner Natalia Zabiiako and embraced her.

"Daria Kasatkina winning Eastbourne on Pride weekend- you know that makes sense," wrote a fan.

"Did it for London Pride," commented another fan.

"What a way to end Pride Month!" another fan weighed in.

Daria Kasatkina urged fans to follow her vlog with partner Natalia Zabiiako following her success in Eastbourne

Soon after winning the Eastbourne final against Fernandez, Kasatkina proceeded to sign on a camera lens; something that has become almost customary in contemporary tennis. The Russian urged fans to follow What The Vlog, a YouTube vlog that she maintains with partner Zabiiako.

"Watch 'What The Vlog' this week," Kasatkina wrote on the camera lens.

Kasatkina and Zabiiako started the vlog in November 2022, and have so far released 72 episodes, showcasing their lives on the WTA Tour. The Russian's next outing is set to be at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, where she is slated to square off against Zhang Shuai in the first round on Monday, July 1.

2024-06-30T03:21:32Z dg43tfdfdgfd