British tennis stars hoping for lots of support at the Lexus Wrexham Open
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British tennis players, including rising Welsh star Mimi Xu, are looking forward to the Lexus Wrexham Open ahead of the ITF World Tennis Tour coming to North Wales.
Preparations are well under way at Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre, the venue for the prestigious women’s tournament between October 19-26, with tickets selling well.
The W100 event is set to feature leading British and international stars, including players ranked in the world’s top 100, with stands, able to accommodate up to 800 spectators, assembled next to the indoor courts.
Xu became the first Welsh player to feature in the singles main draw at Wimbledon for 20 years when she faced Emma Raducanu in June.
The promising teenager from Swansea, ranked just outside the world’s top 300 earlier this year, is now excited to have the opportunity to play in Wales.
“I don’t remember the last time I played a tournament in Wales, so obviously it’s a nice feeling,” said Xu.
"I think Wrexham’s an amazing venue. I played Home Nations there, I did Welsh Championships there every other year when I was younger, so it’s got a lot of nostalgic memories to it. I’m really looking forward to going back there."
The Lexus Wrexham Open has replaced the Lexus W100 Shrewsbury in the LTA Performance Competitions Calendar for 2025.
Sonay Kartal was last year’s Shrewsbury champion and, while it depends on where she will be with her busy schedule and fitness, she told the Wrexham Ready podcast she will hopefully return to defend the title.
Kartal, who recently starred for Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in China, hopes local tennis fans will support the tournament in good numbers when it’s held in Wrexham for the first time.
Kartal, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon earlier this year and also broke into the world’s top 50, said: “Last year I know we had quite a few top 100 players, and I think to have so many top 100 players again is super exciting to watch.”
On what spectators can look forward to, she added: “They’re going to come and watch some of the best women’s tennis out there and they’re going to watch it from a position that is super close and super personal to the court.
“There’s going to be a lot of amazing matches - it's a tournament that I think people should definitely make the effort to attend.”
Freya Christie, who features in the top 10 of the British women’s doubles rankings, also stressed the importance of plenty of support for the British players competing in Wrexham.
“I don’t know any other Brit that doesn’t love playing in front of a big crowd,” said Christie, who enjoyed visiting Wrexham earlier this year to take part in a promotional video for the tournament.
“We love having the home support. It’s great to hear that the ticket sales are going well and I really encourage everyone to come down and watch the tennis in Wrexham because it will be a fantastic week and there will be some really good tennis.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of really good players there and, especially if the crowd can get behind the Brits, hopefully we can have a British winner.”
This is the highest-level tennis tournament to be played in Wales since the Rover British Clay Court Championships in Cardiff in 1996.
Ticket prices, which include a 44-page tournament programme, start from £7.50 for adults and £3.50 for under-16s, with finals day tickets to enjoy both the singles and doubles finals costing £22.50 and £17.50 respectively.
A tournament pass to watch all matches throughout the week, priced £67.50 for adults and £47.50 for under-16s, is also available.
Tickets for the Lexus Wrexham Open can be purchased online at www.wrexhamopentennis.com/tickets-and-events/#tickets
