Daria Kasatkina is back in Eastbourne to defend her title. But the world No. 16 isn’t happy that it’s been downgraded in status this year. The women’s tour returned to the Queen’s Club for the first time since 1973 with a WTA 500 event staged in west London earlier this month. But it came at the expense of the Eastbourne Open, which dropped from a 500-point tournament to a WTA 250.

It means there are fewer ranking points on offer but, more importantly, down to WTA rules, only one top-10 player can enter a WTA 250 event while those in the top 30 are restricted from competing, especially if a WTA 500 tournament takes place in the same week. That’s the case this week, with the Bad Homburg Open also going on.

And Kasatkina made her feelings on the situation clear when she arrived on the Sussex coast to try and retain her title from 2024. “That sucks, honestly. I don’t understand this decision.” the Australian said ahead of her opening match.

“I think Eastbourne is one of the oldest tournaments we’ve got on tour. It’s like the tournament with a big history. As I remember, it was always a 500, so it’s a very nice tournament, and I just didn’t see the reason to downgrade to 250, honestly.

“There’s always quite a good field, all the players coming here. Plus it was super convenient to go from here to London after, everything was great, I don’t know. And also I honestly don’t understand why, like, by the rules, it just would be two 500s in the same week.

“Also, you know Bad Homburg, it’s a very good tournament as well, so I think they deserve to be 500, but, you know, not for the price of another good tournament being downgraded. So I think this is one of the issues, because for example, on the ATP side, there’s no problem to have two 500s in the same week. I honestly don’t see why it’s the problem.”

Even if top players weren’t restricted in entering a WTA 250 event, Kasatkina believes most would still avoid Eastbourne since its downgrade, as they would need to play more matches for fewer ranking points.

“The top players would prefer 500, you know, basically also because if you are, let’s say, top five, you almost 100 per cent will get a bye in 500. On the 250s, we don’t have byes, so you get less points for more matches,” she explained.

“I mean, then also it’s also about money as well, but if we just talk about the performance, you get basically less points for more work. So, yeah, that’s the issue. I honestly also don’t understand why we should have byes on the 500, and not on 250. I think it’s just, you know, something that doesn’t make sense.”

But the Russian-born 28-year-old, who switched allegiances to represent Australia earlier this year, is more than happy to be back in Eastbourne and is delighted with everything the tournament has to offer.

She added: “In the moment, we’re here and, unfortunately, this beautiful tournament was downgraded, but it’s still improving every year. As we saw, they increased the prize money.

“It’s the biggest prize money in 250s, we’ve got on the WTA calendar, so that’s cool. So, I mean, they’re doing their best. I really love this tournament.

“Also the people here are amazing, the crowd, Also, me personally, I’m enjoying the city as well. So, yeah, for me to come back here every year, it’s just a pure joy.”

It will be an Aussie-Kiwi clash in round one as Kasatkina begins her title defence against Lulu Sun, a skilled grass-court player who reached the Wimbledon quarter-final last year. And the world No. 16 has another incentive to win – she’ll be able to stay in Eastbourne longer.