Lexus Nottingham Open 2026: Otto Virtanen edges Billy Harris to reach semi-finals in Nottingham
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Britain’s Billy Harris missed out on a chance to reach the semi-finals at the Lexus Nottingham Open after falling short in a straight sets defeat to Otto Virtanen.
In a tightly contested quarter-final, Harris was edged out 7-6(3), 7-6(3) by the former Lexus Birmingham Open champion, ending the home crowd’s hopes of a British winner in Nottingham.
The match was dominated by strong serving from both players. Harris won 75% of points behind his first serve (43/57), while Virtanen was even more efficient, dropping just six points when his first serve landed (50/56) and firing an impressive 30 aces.
With neither player able to find a breakthrough, both sets were decided by tie-breaks. There, it was the Finnish world No.160 who raised his level at the crucial moments, securing two mini-breaks in each to end Harris’ hopes of clinching a home title.
“I’m very happy with the win, I think Billy played great tonight so all credits to him,” Virtanen said in his on-court interview. “I had to really show my best on the biggest moments to win this match.
“It’s nice to play here, first time on Centre Court this week and it’s nice to have a lot of people staying here with us until the end so thank you everyone.”
Virtanen has developed a strong pedigree on grass in recent years and will be one to watch throughout the remainder of the grass court swing.
The 24-year-old was crowned champion at the Lexus Birmingham Open last year and made the final at the Edgbaston Priory Club once again earlier this summer, where he came out on the losing side of a three-set battle against China’s Yunchaokete Bu. He also reached the semi-finals in Surbiton in 2022.
Now, the Finn is targeting a second career Challenger title on the grass this week, and will be hoping to continue his dominant streak that has seen him reach the final four without dropping a set.
“I always have enjoyed playing on grass, it’s something special for me,” he added. “It’s a short period of the year but it’s one of my favourite periods of the year. It’s always great.”
Next up, Virtanen will bid to seal a place in his first final in Nottingham when he takes on China’s Zhizhen Zhang.
Elsewhere, British lucky loser Hannah Klugman saw her run in the women’s event come to an end in the second round. The 17-year-old, who claimed her first WTA tour-level earlier in the week against compatriot Harriet Dart, was unable to overcome fifth seed Marie Bouzkova in this afternoon’s match.
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