Marion Bartoli, a former Wimbledon finalist, is on course to become the first player to retain the Eastbourne title since Belgium’s Justine Henin in 2007.
The French ace has looked formidable at Devonshire Park this year, her ninth appearance on the bounce in the English south coast tournament.
Bartoli beamed:
I’m feeling in good form right now and I’m playing quite well. Grass is my favourite surface.
“And it is good to have this kind of form before Wimbledon – obviously I will see how the draws come out tomorrow and try to play the same way there (SW19).
“I was glad to finish before the rain started because when grass gets wet you can really hurt yourself quite badly, which is the last thing you want to do three days before a Grand Slam.”