Lexus Birmingham Open 2026: Mika Stojsavljevic into first WTA 125 quarter-final
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Mika Stojsavljevic booked a spot in her first WTA 125 quarter-final after defeating Elvina Kalieva in three sets at the Lexus Birmingham Open.
The 17-year-old makes history as the youngest woman to reach the quarter-finals at the Edgebaston Priory Club after she beat the world No.135 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-2 in two hours and 22 minutes.
The Brit now has two top 150 victories at the tournament under her belt after taking down world No.136 and former junior world No.1 Emerson Jones in the first round.
Stojsavljevic will face the winner of the all-Czech battle later today when fifth seed Nikola Bartunkova takes on world No.208 Gabriela Andrea Knutson.
Speaking on court after the match, the world No.288 shared her relief at getting through the match: "It feels amazing. She’s obviously a very good player and I had a bit of a wobble in the second set, so I’m very happy to win.
“She raised her level, mine maybe dropped a little bit with some loose points in the tie break but she capitalised on the important points so credit to her.”
Despite the weather interruptions, Stojsavljevic looked at home on the grass as she became the eighth British woman to reach the quarter-final at the Lexus Birmingham Open.
The 17-year-old produced an impressive performance on serve, firing 19 aces over the course of the match.
The former junior US Open champion found the early break through on Centre Court, converting her third break point at 1-1 in the opening set. Consolidating her lead, the Brit dropped just 6 points on serve (21/27) during the set, finishing it in style with her fifth ace of the match.
Another nine aces helped the Brit stay level through a tight second set, but she was unable to capitalise on five break point opportunities as they headed to a tie-break, where the American managed to get back on level terms.
Stojsavljevic produced a calm response in the decider, regaining her consistency on serve to race ahead to 4-1.
With a match point opportunity at 30-40 on the American's serve, a long ball from the opposite side of the net sent the Brit into her first grass court quarter-final.
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