Chanda Rubin has not got a bad word to say about her annual visits to Eastbourne.

Just as well because this leading event on the Sussex sporting calendar has taken its fair share of criticism this year.

Even the popular 26-year-old American could not help provide a much-needed thrilling finale to the Britannic Asset Management Championships on Saturday.

She needed just 51 minutes to clinch her first Eastbourne title at the tenth time of asking, defeating fellow non-seed Anatasia Myskina, from Moscow, 6-1 6-3 to claim the £64,000 jackpot.

Rubin's success rounded off a week which has not been all sweetness and light amid the Pimms and picnics.

A lack of star players, early defeats for the biggest names, too few epic three-setters, a very public objection over scheduling by Jelena Dokic and even a protest from season ticket holders have seen some of the shine taken off the Eastbourne event.

For Rubin, however, the bright and breezy Sussex coast was the perfect tonic after dark days when she faced extended surgery on a troublesome left knee.

She said: "Learning I needed a second knee operation in January was kind of a low point because I had already worked the better part of a year to try and come back.

"On a day like that you don't think you are going to be in a final but I continued to work and I was never negative. I was always looking forward.

"I feel now I am a better player all round but the women's game itself is better so you just have to keep improving."

Rubin was ranked 37th in the world going into this event, a long way from the No. 6 spot to which she was heading when she lost to Nathalie Tauziat in her previous final appearance in 1995.

She admitted: "I enjoy Eastbourne. It's a good warm-up tournament for Wimbledon.

"I like the area. It's really relaxed, a pretty town and the weather is actually pretty good for England.

"The people here really support tennis, which is wonderful.

"It's a good chance to practise and play some matches because, even if you lose in the first round, you get to play in the cup."

Saturday's run out was always going to end in victory when, after losing the first game, she won the next seven to move into a near unassailable position.

Rubin made fewer unforced errors, was more effective at the net and seized on some weak second serves from her 20-year-old opponent.

Myskina provided glimpses of her potential, notably at 1-1 in the second set when she blasted her way to three break points.

Rubin fought back to win that game before clinching the vital break when the Russian, serving at 2-3 and 30-30, netted a smash and missed with a straightforward forehand. The title was then secured with the help of the match's only two aces.

Myskina had the consolation of a £34,000 cheque and the knowledge that this was the most successful of her three visits to Sussex.

She admitted: "It was hard for me. I was a little bit tired and Chanda played great.

"You have to be 100 per cent ready to play on grass and I wasn't.

"I have to improve my serve and my forehand return and keep my concentration."

Eastbourne this year has been all about stars of yesteryear and potential top players of the future.

Mary Pierce disappointed but Martina Navratilova, at 45, certainly entertained the Centre Court crowds.

Those present for the last two days of the event may also like to keep their order of play cards somewhere safe.

A semi-final line-up including Myskina, Daniela Hantuchova and Daja Bedanova will look very impressive in a few years' time if those starlets of central and eastern Europe fulfil their potential.

The trick is to keep them coming. Tennis at Eastbourne remains an enjoyable way to spend a summer's day, be it on Centre or perusing the outside courts, but the event has taken a battering of late.

None of the top six seeds for this year's Wimbledon were present and all seven ties from the quarter-final stage petered out into predictable straight sets affairs.

Tournament director John Feaver admitted attendance figures were slightly down but said: "Last year was an all-time record and it was sunny every day. We still had 37,000 people through the turnstiles which is good. We lost our No.1 seed (Lindsay Davenport) through injury but some of the other players we have had are among the most attractive players in the game.

"The Williams sisters are on everyone's lips and we have not got them but the standard here is very high.

"The ones who do well here I feel sure will get to at least the semis or quarter-finals at Wimbledon."

Those who stayed to the end on Saturday got the nailbiter they wanted.

World No.1 doubles pairing Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs had to survive five match points to beat Elena Likhovtseva and the outstanding Cara Black 6-7 7-6 6-2 in a thrilling doubles final.

Likhovtseva, who choked similarly in her singles defeat to Bedanova, put a simple backhand into the net with victory beckoning and later served for the match in the second tie break.

Eastbourne will hope to see similar drama next year, preferably before the crowds have dispersed and the television studio been dismantled.