Whiley, ranked 29 in the world, dropped the first set against Germany’s Katharina Kruger, the world No.14. The Briton then went 4-1 down in the second set and looked to be on her way out of the tournament before putting together a run of five games to force a third and deciding set.
Kruger looked to be back in control in the final set, taking a 4-0 lead, but once again Whiley dug deep and served for the match at 6-5 before Kruger forced the final set tie-break.
Whiley showed great composure to take a 5-2 lead in the tie-break and then a fortunate net cord gave her the first of four match points, the second of which she converted to clinch a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) victory and a place in the second round, where she will face world No 7 Aniek Van Koot of the Netherlands.
There was disappointment for British Women’s No 1 Lucy Shuker as she lost out 0-6, 2-6 to former World No 1 and former two-time British Open champion Daniela di Toro of Australia.
Meanwhile, after a first round bye on Tuesday, current World No 1 Esther Vergeer of the Netherlands will begin her bid for an eighth successive British Open title on Wednesday against Johana Martinez of Colombia. All eight Women’s Singles seeds have byes in to Wednesday’s second round.
The most eagerly anticipated first round match in the Men’s Main Draw Singles saw World No 1 and defending champion Shingo Kunieda of Japan beat Sweden’s World No 10 Stefan Olsson in straight sets. Kunieda, who is yet to lose a set in six tournaments this season, raced in to a 4-0 lead against Olsson en route to completing a 6-2, 6-2 victory and the Japanese player remains the only world top 10 player that the up-and-coming Olsson has yet to beat this season.
Arguably the match of the day in the Men’s Main Draw Singles was an all-British affair that ended with British No.2 Gordon Reid beating Marc McCarroll in three sets. Reid, the winner of the Men’s Second Draw Singles at the British Open in 2006, eventually prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 to reach the second round for the very first time. He now faces World No.3 Stephane Houdet of France on Wednesday.
British Men's No.1 David Phillipson was unable to find a way to beat former world No.1 Michael Jeremiasz of France in his first round match this year, despite a good second set effort.
Phillipson led the current World No.4 3-0 at the start of the second set, but was unable to sustain his attack and Jeremiasz eventually sealed a 6-2, 6-3 victory and a second round contest against Eric Stuurman of the Netherlands.
Peter Norfolk the world No.2 Quad player will take on Britain’s No.2 ranked Quad player Jamie Burdekin in the second round of the Quad Singles.
Liverpool-based Burdekin beat fellow Briton Chris Johnson on Tuesday to earn his place in the last 16 against his doubles partner Norfolk.
Norfolk, who is bidding to win his fourth British Open Quad Singles title after previous victories in 2003, 2005 and 2006, joined the other seven seeded players in all having first round-byes on Tuesday.
Play begins at 10.00am and entry is free to all spectators throughout the tournament.