Madison Keys will play Tatjana Maria in the Eastbourne International final, following the retirement of semi-final opponent Petra Marcinko.

The former Australian Open champion is through to her third final at Eastbourne, where she triumphed in 2014 and 2023.

Keys is looking to match Martina Navratilova (11) and Chris Evert (three) as the only players to win the event on three or more occasions.

The American raced away with the opening set, breaking her opponent three times on the way to taking it 6-1.

Lucky loser Marcinko was physically struggling at this stage and called for the trainer.

The Croatian was subsequently unable to continue, bringing a premature end to the contest, and securing Keys' passage into a 16th WTA singles final.

Maria continues to flourish on grass

Standing in Keys' way of completing an Eastbourne hat-trick is the player who defeated her on route to glory at Queen's Club last year.

World number 112 Maria also benefited from a withdrawal, as Jelena Ostapenko was forced to retire through illness.

Maria dominated the opening set 6-1, but found herself 2-1 down at the start of the second.

Yet Ostapenko, who suffered from heat stroke earlier in the week, could not carry on, handing the German passage into her fifth career final.

Three of those have come on grass for the 2022 Wimbledon semi-finalist, who will aim to maintain her perfect career record in championship matches.