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Makarova claims Eastbourne title

Ekaterina Makarova produced some fine play to take the title in Eastbourne © Getty Images

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Ekaterina Makarova stormed to victory at the AEGON International with a 7-6(5) 6-4 win over Victoria Azarenka in the final - becoming the first qualifier to win the title in the process.

Makarova battled through qualifying to reach the tournament proper in Eastbourne and showed her quality by taking the title without dropping a set all week. The Russian was deserving of her victory, but she was aided by the fact Azarenka was restricted in her movement on account of injury.

Makarova raced into a 5-2 first-set lead as Azarenka looked inhibited in her movement, but the Belarusian reeled off three games on the spin to level at 5-5 and had a break point in the 11th, only to squander it. The set went to a breaker and Makarova stamped her authority on it early with a mini-break and wrapped up the set in 66 minutes.

Azarenka showed real spirit at the start of the second set as she defended valiantly in the face of some fine play from Makarova, but the Russian secured a break in the fifth game. Azarenka worked four break points in the sixth game but on each occasion Makarova worked her way out of trouble with her swinging left-handed serve.

Azarenka made Makarova win the match by holdin to love in the ninth game and the Russian kept her nerve to secure the title.

Makarova joins a famous list of winners including Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles, Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin and Chris Evert, and she was thrilled with her victory.

"I want to thank my coach and my family," Makarova said. "It is great to win the title. It is unbelievable and I can't believe I did it. I like the grass and really enjoy playing here."

Justine Henin battled back from a set down to land the Unicef Open title with a 3-6 6-3 6-4 win over Andrea Petkovic.

The Belgian No. 1 seed made a slow start and a solitary break of serve handed the set to Petkovic. But from that point on, Henin found her stride and she showed her class to seal victory 11 minutes short of two hours.

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