The Lexus Eastbourne Open: A Guide to Eastbourne's Famous Tennis Tournament

The Lexus Eastbourne Open: A Guide to Eastbourne's Famous Tennis Tournament

Every summer, some of the world's best tennis players arrive in Eastbourne for one of the highlights of the British grass-court season — the Lexus Eastbourne Open.

Played at the historic Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, the tournament brings world-class tennis to the heart of Eastbourne just before Wimbledon. With its beautiful grass courts, intimate atmosphere and location close to the seafront, it is a fantastic sporting event to experience during a stay in the town.

What is the Lexus Eastbourne Open?

The Lexus Eastbourne Open is an annual professional tennis tournament played on outdoor grass courts at Devonshire Park.

The women's tournament has a particularly long history in Eastbourne, with the first Eastbourne Open taking place in 1974. Over the years, the event has attracted some of the biggest names in women's tennis, including Martina Navratilova, who won the tournament a remarkable 11 times.

The modern event is particularly special because Eastbourne hosts both men's and women's tour-level tennis, as well as wheelchair tennis.

The 2026 tournament featured WTA 250, ATP 250 and wheelchair events, making it one of the most varied professional tennis tournaments on the grass-court calendar.

When is the Lexus Eastbourne Open?

The tournament traditionally takes place in June as part of the build-up to Wimbledon.

In 2026, qualifying took place on 20 and 21 June, with the main draw running from 22 to 27 June. The finals were played on Saturday 27 June.

The tournament is particularly popular because it provides tennis fans with the opportunity to see top players competing on grass shortly before Wimbledon begins.

Details of future tournaments are released by the organisers nearer the time.

Where is the tournament held?

The Lexus Eastbourne Open takes place at Devonshire Park, on College Road in the heart of Eastbourne.

The venue is within easy walking distance of the seafront and is surrounded by some of Eastbourne's most popular attractions.

That makes it easy to combine a day of tennis with a walk along the promenade, a visit to Eastbourne Pier or an evening meal in one of the town's restaurants.

World-Class Players in Eastbourne

One of the biggest attractions of the Lexus Eastbourne Open is the quality of the players competing.

The 2026 women's entry list included players such as Jasmine Paolini, Madison Keys, Jelena Ostapenko and Barbora Krejcikova. Madison Keys went on to win the women's singles title.

The men's tournament also featured a strong field, led by four-time Eastbourne champion Taylor Fritz.

For tennis fans, this creates a rare opportunity to watch some of the world's leading players competing at close quarters in a relatively intimate setting.

Why Eastbourne is Such a Great Tennis Destination

There is something particularly enjoyable about watching tennis in Eastbourne.

Unlike some of the world's largest sporting events, Devonshire Park has a much more relaxed atmosphere. You can get close to the action, enjoy the traditional grass-court setting and then be on the seafront within minutes.

The tournament also has a strong connection with the town itself. Visitors aren't simply coming to watch tennis — they're coming to enjoy a few days in Eastbourne.

You can spend the morning watching matches, head down to the seafront for lunch, explore the town during the afternoon and enjoy dinner overlooking the coast.

A Perfect Day Out

If you're visiting Eastbourne for the Lexus Eastbourne Open, there's plenty to do around your tennis session.

Start with breakfast

Begin the day with breakfast or coffee before making your way towards Devonshire Park.

Meads Village, the town centre and the seafront all offer plenty of options depending on where you're staying.

Watch the tennis

Allow plenty of time to enjoy the atmosphere at Devonshire Park rather than simply arriving for one particular match.

The schedule can change and there may be several matches worth watching throughout the day.

Explore Eastbourne

After the tennis, take a stroll towards the seafront and enjoy some of Eastbourne's famous coastline.

Eastbourne Pier, the promenade and the beaches are all within easy reach.

Enjoy dinner

Finish the day with dinner at one of Eastbourne's many restaurants or traditional pubs.

From Meads and Old Town to the seafront and Sovereign Harbour, there are plenty of options to suit different tastes.

Getting to the Lexus Eastbourne Open

Devonshire Park is conveniently located in central Eastbourne and is easy to reach by public transport.

Eastbourne railway station is within walking distance of the venue, making the tournament particularly accessible for visitors travelling by train.

There are also local bus services and car parking options in the surrounding area.

If you're driving, it's worth planning your parking in advance, particularly during the busiest days of the tournament. The organisers provide specific travel and parking information for visitors.

Make a Weekend of It

One of the best ways to experience the Lexus Eastbourne Open is to make it part of a longer stay.

Eastbourne has far more to offer than tennis.

You could combine your visit with:

• A walk along the Seven Sisters

• A trip to Beachy Head

• A stroll along Eastbourne seafront

• A visit to Eastbourne Pier

• Exploring Eastbourne Old Town

• Lunch or dinner in Meads

• A visit to Towner Eastbourne

• A walk through the South Downs

• An evening at Sovereign Harbour

This makes the Lexus Eastbourne Open an excellent excuse to discover more of the town and surrounding Sussex coastline.

Staying in Eastbourne for the Tennis?

If you're travelling to Eastbourne for the Lexus Eastbourne Open, staying locally means you can make the most of your visit without spending your time travelling to and from the tournament.

At Stay Eastbourne, we offer professionally managed holiday accommodation in some of Eastbourne's most popular areas, including Meads and Old Town.

Devonshire Park is conveniently located for many of our properties, while the seafront, restaurants, shops and other attractions are all within easy reach.

Whether you're visiting specifically for the tennis or combining the tournament with a longer Sussex break, Eastbourne makes a fantastic base.

Plan Your Visit

The Lexus Eastbourne Open is much more than a tennis tournament. It's a chance to enjoy world-class sport in one of Britain's most attractive seaside towns.

With grass-court tennis, the South Downs, beautiful coastline, independent restaurants and plenty to explore, Eastbourne is an ideal destination for a summer break.

Stay local. Explore Eastbourne. Enjoy the tennis.