Eastbourne expert Chanda Rubin believes she is recapturing the form which made her one of the top six players in the world.

Rubin reached her second final at Devonshire Park with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-1 win yesterday against Czech teenager Daja Bedanova.

The American lost to Nathalie Tauziat in three sets in the 1995 final. A year later she was ranked six, but knee problems have dropped her to 37.

Rubin, also a semi-finalist in each of the last two years, said: "The game is better than it was then and overall I'm a better player now.

"During that period I was going for my shots and had a couple of good wins. I feel the same way now.

"I know I can compete in any match against anybody and come up with a win."

Rubin has played her rival in the final, Anastasia Myskina, twice before and the score stands at 1-1.

"She is a very tough competitor," said the 26-year-old. "She has a good understanding of the game and I am going to have to be aggressive and take the match from the beginning."

Rubin is hoping another encouraging show at Eastbourne will be the prelude to a better Wimbledon, where she has never progressed beyond the third round.

"I think it's a great warm-up for Wimbledon," she said. "I just enjoy coming back here. It's really relaxed.

"The town is really pretty and you can get in some good matches. It's better than going to London and fighting for a practise court.

"Hopefully this year my form will carry through. For the last couple of years I haven't played well at Wimbledon."

Bedanova, 19, exceeded expectations. She saved three match points in round one against Elena Likhovtseva, then knocked out top seed Jelena Dokic.

Her consolation is a cheque for over £18,000.