Fritz fends off Purcell to win third Eastbourne title
Written by I Dig SportsTaylor Fritz won his third Eastbourne International title with a 6-3 6-4 victory over surprise finalist Max Purcell.
The American top seed was previously successful at the tournament in 2019 and 2022 and came through this year's event without dropping a set.
Fritz served nine aces in the final and just had too much power for world number 94 Purcell of Australia, who battled through two qualifying rounds to reach the main draw.
"This has been the best I have been serving on grass," world number 13 Fritz said.
"I always feel like I play well here and just had a good feeling coming into the week. I did a great job."
Fritz's victory at Devonshire Park, ahead of Wimbledon getting under way on Monday, gave him an eighth ATP Tour title and his second of 2024.
Elsewhere, Great Britain's Julian Cash and American partner Robert Galloway won the doubles title at the Mallorca Championships.
Cash and Galloway achieved a 6-4 6-4 victory against Ecuador's Diego Hidalgo and Alejandro Tabilo of Chile in the final at the Santa Ponsa Tennis Academy.
Tabilo had the considerable consolation of lifting the singles trophy, taking a 6-3 6-4 victory against Austria's Sebastian Ofner.