Latest news with #LexusNottinghamOpen
Wales Online
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wimbledon to have first Welsh player in the main draw in 20 years
Wimbledon to have first Welsh player in the main draw in 20 years Mingge (Mimi) Xu will be the first Welsh player in the Wimbledon Championships singles main draw for 20 years Mimi Xu at the Lexus Nottingham Open (Image: Getty Images for LTA ) Wimbledon fever is sweeping across Wales as the country celebrates its first Welsh singles main draw player at The Championships in two decades. Mingge (Mimi) Xu will be the first Welsh competitor in the Wimbledon Championships singles main draw for 20 years. The teenager from Swansea, has been granted a wildcard into the Wimbledon main draw as she climbs the international women's rankings. The last player from Wales to compete in the main draw at Wimbledon was Rebecca Llewellyn, who took part in both the singles and doubles at the Championships in 2005. Other Welsh players who have competed in the main draw at SW1 include Swansea's Mike Davies in the 1960s, Bridgend's Gerald Battrick who competed on the grass at Wimbledon for 11 years in the 1960s and 70s, reaching the third round in 1971. Colwyn Bay's Mike Walker competed in 1986 and Sarah Loosemore, of Dinas Powys, featured in the women's draw four times and made it to the second round in 2000. Wales' Wimbledon heroes through the years Mimi Xu is currently Wales' highest ranked player despite only being 17 years old. She has a world ranking of 302 on the WTA tour and began playing tennis aged three at the Swansea tennis and squash club. Her mum Wendy is retired and dad Tony is an engineer. Article continues below Her profile on the WTA website says she prefers hard courts and her interests outside tennis include playing the piano, studying and baking. The 5ft 9ins tall teenager has had a successful summer so far, picking up a first-round win at the Nottingham Open against American Katie Volynets and reaching the quarter finals of the Birmingham Open. She also reached the second round of the Ilkley Open. Her four WTA-level wins at those three events included victories over two to 150 players and a first round victory against American Alycia Parks in Birmingham, who is ranked 52 in the world. Mimi Xu playing in June (Image: PA ) Xu already has history with Wimbledon; she remains the youngest player in the Open Era to receive a wildcard into the Women's qualifying event. At just 14, she earned this opportunity by winning both the U16 and U18 British National titles. And she's still young enough to participate in the junior tournament, if she chooses to. Last year, she reached the final of the junior doubles with fellow UK player Mika Stojsavljevic. Xu attended the LTA National Academy in Loughborough and now hones her skills at the LTA National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, training alongside players like Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper. (Image: Getty Images for LTA ) Wimbledon will be her first time in the main draw of a Grand Slam. Other Welsh players competing at Wimbledon, although not in the main draw, include James Story, a 24 year old from Cardiff, who is currently Wales' highest-ranked male player, boasting a career-best ATP ranking of No. 557. However Story lost in the first round of the main qualifying draw after winning the LTA Wimbledon Qualifying Play-Offs. (Image: Getty Images for LTA ) Felix Bockelmann-Evans will participate in the junior boys' doubles after securing victory in the Lexus Junior National Championships alongside his partner Ferran Redza. The duo clinched the British national title in a thrilling contest, overcoming the top three seeded teams on their way to lifting the coveted trophy. The 18 year old from Penarth is part of the Tennis Wales National Training Programme, delivered in partnership with Cardiff Met University, and has trained in Wales throughout his budding tennis career. (Image: Getty Images for LTA ) Article continues below This will be Bockelmann-Evans made his debut at the Wimbledon Championships, a significant milestone for the young player who's been having an impressive year, having won his first men's title at a Progress Tour event held at Cardiff Met in January. The Junior Championships at Wimbledon kick off a week after the commencement of the men's and women's events, with main draw matches available for viewing on the BBC iPlayer.
Powys County Times
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Katie Boulter looking ahead to Wimbledon after Nottingham exit
Katie Boulter decided to focus on the positives despite seeing her quest for a third straight title at the LTA's Lexus Nottingham Open end in the quarter-final. Boulter battled bravely but lost out to American McCartney Kessler 6-3 3-6 6-4 at centre court, ending not only Boulter's hopes of a hat-trick of successes but snapping her 12-match winning streak in Nottingham. Yet despite defeat in the last eight, Boulter believes her performance provided plenty to take heart from. 'I felt like I played some really good tennis,' said Boulter. 'It's unfortunate that I lost today but I actually think that was one of my better matches here. 'It's pretty ironic but it is what it is. I thought there some really good positives to take from it. Backhand brilliance from @katiecboulter ☄ Your @LexusUK Shot of the Day from Nottingham — LTA (@the_LTA) June 20, 2025 'I found my groove as we got to the set-all. I played one bad game in the first set and thought the rest of the match was a high performance from the both of us. 'I felt like the level out there was really good. It's been better than a lot of my matches. Just because I win a match doesn't mean it was my best tennis and just because I lose a match doesn't mean it was my worst tennis. 'I'm allowed to be beaten on the day and I felt like she [McCartney] did that. She's a very good player and I'm positive her ranking will go higher and higher for the rest of the year. 'I played some really good stuff in the second and got unlucky in certain points but I played the game I wanted to play and normally I can and that was some of the best tennis I've played this year.' Boulter departs the Midlands less than a week away from the LTA's Lexus Eastbourne Open but she has already ruled out competing there. Instead, Boulter has decided to switch her focus to ensuring that she heads to the lawns of SW19 at her absolute best physically and mentally. She added: 'I haven't thought too much about it yet but I'm not playing next week. If I was chasing points and rankings I would be but my plan is not to because I want to prioritise Wimbledon and that's something I've never done before and I'd like to try something different. 'The odd match here and there would have been but I don't think that'll make a difference when I step out to Wimbledon. It's now about getting work done in the next week and continuing to work on my physical game. 'It makes a massive difference and something I've never done before so I'd like to try it. 'I've always focused on getting a lot of matches before Wimbledon and getting as much time as I got on the grass and I don't think that's helped me a lot as I ran into Wimbledon on fumes mentally.' Boulter's battle with Kessler headlined an action-packed programme at Nottingham. Earlier, Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska was the first player to reach the final four after taking down fifth seed and last year's Eastbourne runner-up Leylah Fernandez 6-3 7-6 (6). And sixth seed Magda Linette held off second seed Clara Tauson 6-2 7-5 to reach a career-first semi-final on grass. Linette hardly broke a sweat in the first set but found herself fighting off a ferocious fightback from her opponent, who surged to a 5-2 lead in the second. The Pole proved herself more than up to the challenge, halting Tauson in her tracks by taking the last five games to advance. Top seeds Shuai Zhang and Su-Wei Hsieh advanced to the semi-final in women's doubles after defeating Eri Hozumi and Aldila Sutjiadi 6-4 6-3. They next face fourth seeds Ena Shibahara and Anna Danilina, who eliminated Anastasia Detiuc and Bibiane Schoofs 7-6 (5) 6-3.
North Wales Chronicle
20-06-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Katie Boulter's bid for Nottingham treble ended by American McCartney Kessler
Boulter was gunning for a third successive Nottingham Open crown, having won in 2023 and 2024, but came unstuck against the world number 42 with victory in sight. The British number two was 4-3 up with a break of serve in the final set, but lost the last three games, including her serve twice, to go down 6-3 3-6 6-4. Katie Boulter's sensational run of wins in Nottingham comes to an end #BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | #LexusNottinghamOpen — LTA (@the_LTA) June 20, 2025 That saw her 12-match winning run on her home court come to an end. American Kessler said: 'It was a really tight match, it was close. I wanted to stay within myself and keep playing my game and luckily I came out on top. 'We are both aggressive players, so there was a lot of shot-making. 'I am trying to get as many titles as I can and put myself in the position to win titles. I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend.' She will play Rebecca Sramkova in Saturday's semi-finals. Dayana Yastremska will play Magda Linette in the other semi-final. Ukrainian Yastremska beat former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 6-3 7-6 (6) in the quarter-final. Linette downed top seed Clara Tauson 6-2 7-5 to book her spot in the last four.
Leader Live
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Katie Boulter's bid for Nottingham treble ended by American McCartney Kessler
Boulter was gunning for a third successive Nottingham Open crown, having won in 2023 and 2024, but came unstuck against the world number 42 with victory in sight. The British number two was 4-3 up with a break of serve in the final set, but lost the last three games, including her serve twice, to go down 6-3 3-6 6-4. Katie Boulter's sensational run of wins in Nottingham comes to an end #BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | #LexusNottinghamOpen — LTA (@the_LTA) June 20, 2025 That saw her 12-match winning run on her home court come to an end. American Kessler said: 'It was a really tight match, it was close. I wanted to stay within myself and keep playing my game and luckily I came out on top. 'We are both aggressive players, so there was a lot of shot-making. 'I am trying to get as many titles as I can and put myself in the position to win titles. I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend.' She will play Rebecca Sramkova in Saturday's semi-finals. Dayana Yastremska will play Magda Linette in the other semi-final. Ukrainian Yastremska beat former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 6-3 7-6 (6) in the quarter-final. Linette downed top seed Clara Tauson 6-2 7-5 to book her spot in the last four.
South Wales Guardian
20-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Katie Boulter's bid for Nottingham treble ended by American McCartney Kessler
Boulter was gunning for a third successive Nottingham Open crown, having won in 2023 and 2024, but came unstuck against the world number 42 with victory in sight. The British number two was 4-3 up with a break of serve in the final set, but lost the last three games, including her serve twice, to go down 6-3 3-6 6-4. Katie Boulter's sensational run of wins in Nottingham comes to an end #BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | #LexusNottinghamOpen — LTA (@the_LTA) June 20, 2025 That saw her 12-match winning run on her home court come to an end. American Kessler said: 'It was a really tight match, it was close. I wanted to stay within myself and keep playing my game and luckily I came out on top. 'We are both aggressive players, so there was a lot of shot-making. 'I am trying to get as many titles as I can and put myself in the position to win titles. I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend.' She will play Linda Noskova or Rebecca Sramkova in Saturday's semi-finals. Dayana Yastremska will play Magda Linette in the other semi-final. Ukrainian Yastremska beat former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 6-3 7-6 (6) in the quarter-final. Linette downed top seed Clara Tauson 6-2 7-5 to book her spot in the last four.
