Lexus Nottingham Open 2026: Billy Harris fights into quarter-finals

Harris – who knocked out fourth seed Coleman Wong in round one – defeated rising star Arthur Gea 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-4 to progress into the last eight.

Harris showed his grass court credentials once again with another hard-fought victory over the rising French star.

After the disappointment of losing the second set tie-break and losing his break lead in the decider, Harris gave the perfect response. He broke again at 4-4 and kept his nerve to serve out the win after two hours and 48 minutes.

“It was tough the whole way through,” Harris said. “I had to keep my focus right until the end because he was serving really well. He was getting me with big serves down the T.

“I managed to get the break towards the end, but he broke straight back, so I had to stay aggressive. Maybe there was a bit of luck in there to get another break, but I’m happy overall.

“There are a couple of little things (to improve). Conditions were different today, the courts felt a bit slower later in the day. Serve and return needs to be on point to win on grass, so that’s the main thing.

“There was great support again, and it’s nice that family and friends can come and watch.”

The 31-year-old British star has had an excellent record on grass in recent years, reaching semi-finals in Eastbourne, Nottingham, and Surbiton, as well as a quarter-final at Queen’s in 2024.

His quarter-final run so far at the Lexus Nottingham Open is currently his best grass court result from this year’s campaign, having made the second round in both Birmingham and Ilkley.

It will be his first ATP Challenger semi-final since Phoenix in March, where he picked up two top-100 wins over Aleksandar Vukic and Adrian Mannarino.

In the quarter-finals he will play former Birmingham champion Otto Virtanen, after the Finnish star knocked out Britain’s Felix Gill earlier in the day 6-2, 6-3.

Harris and Virtanen have faced each other just once before at the Davis Cup Finals in 2024, with the British star coming through in straight sets.

Gill was one of three British players to bow out on the third day in Nottingham, alongside Jacob Fearnley and Jay Clarke.

2024 champion Fearnley’s eight-match unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of second seed Benjamin Bonzi 6-1, 7-6(5).

Meanwhile, it was heartbreak for Clarke, who was aiming for his second Challenger grass court quarter-final and first since 2017.

The 27-year-old had two match points at 5-4 in the third set against Christopher O’Connell but eventually lost 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5).

Hannah Klugman is in second round women's singles action tomorrow up against world No.27 and fourth seed Marie Bouzkova.