Kasatkina masters Fernandez in Rothesay International final

MANILA, Philippines -- Daria Kasatkina continued her dominance over Leylah Fernandez, fashioning out a 6-3, 6-4 victory in the Rothesay International finals Saturday in Eastbourne, England (Sunday Manila time) for her seventh career title and first on grass.

The victory likewise ended Kasatkina's losing streak in Hologic WTA Tour finals this season, having previously lost in Charleston, Abu Dhabi and Adelaide.

"It's been a year, but it feels like it's been a few days since last year when I was standing here," said Kasatkina, who overcame Wang Xinyu, Yuan Yue, Emma Raducanu, and No. 7 Jasmine Paolini on her way to the final.

"I just feel like I put down some very heavy backpack," Kasatkina added. "Even though I understand that playing in a fourth final of the year is a great achievement, if you don't win, you have a very bitter feeling after that."

Kasatkina's victory also improved her record to 3-0 over the Fil-Canadian Fernandez, who reached her first grass-court final. Ranked No. 30 in the PIF WTA Rankings, Fernandez entered Eastbourne with confidence after reaching the quarterfinals in Birmingham. She had defeated Barbora Krejcikova in the first round and ended Madison Keys' title defense in the semifinals, boosting her pursuit of a fourth career title.

However, Fernandez struggled to break through Kasatkina's serve. The No. 6 seed broke serve in the first game and saved three break points in an 11-deuce game to hold to 4-2. Kasatkina then broke Fernandez again to seal the opening set and continued the pattern in the second set.

After breaking Fernandez for a 2-0 lead in the second set, Kasatkina saved four break points to extend her lead to 3-0. Fernandez fought back to take a 4-3 lead but couldn't maintain her serve for the remainder of the 1-hour and 50-minute match.

"The second set, it's been a roller coaster," Kasatkina said. "Honestly, I didn't feel great being 3-0 up and then 3-4 down in five minutes, ten minutes. But I'm proud of myself for staying composed and not losing my mind. It was pretty easy to get discouraged when I was 3-4 down, returning with new balls against the wind. That could have been a very tough moment, and it was, but I'm really happy with how I overcame the situation."

Despite the setback, Fernandez will enter this week’s Wimbledon in high spirits, launching her campaign against Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti.