Lexus Nottingham Open 2025: Katie Boulter & Sonay Kartal on course to meet in second round; all-British clash in round one
• 2 MINUTE READ
The draws have been announced for the Lexus Nottingham Open with some blockbuster matchups in the opening rounds of the WTA and ATP Challenger tournaments.
Here’s a rundown of who the British stars will play in the first round.
Lexus Nottingham Open 2025 – First round draws
- Katie Boulter (GBR) (8) vs Lulu Sun (NZL)
- Sonay Kartal (GBR) vs Qualifier
- Francesca Jones (GBR) (WC) vs Harriet Dart (GBR) (WC)
- Hannah Klugman (GBR) (WC) vs Yulia Putintseva (GBR) (4)
- Mimi Xu (GBR) (WC) vs Katie Volynets (USA)
- George Loffhagen (GBR) (WC) vs Luca Nardi (ITA) (1)
- Jack Pinnington Jones (GBR) (WC) vs Emilio Nava (USA)
- Ryan Peniston (GBR) (WC) vs Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) (5)
British clashes set for opening rounds; Klugman & Xu handed difficult draws
Two-time reigning champion and eighth seed Katie Boulter will begin her campaign for a third consecutive title in Nottingham against New Zealand’s Lulu Sun.
Sun announced herself on the tour last summer when she defeated Britain’s Emma Raducanu in the fourth round at Wimbledon to reach her first major quarter-final.
If Boulter wins her opening round match, she could play fellow Billie Jean King Cup teammate Sonay Kartal in the second round.
British No.3 Kartal has drawn a qualifier in the opening round off the back of the biggest win of her career at Queen’s last week against world No.16 Daria Kasatkina.
There will be an all-British clash in the first round between Francesca Jones and Harriet Dart. Jones made the quarter-final in Nottingham last year, while Dart made the final eight in 2022 and 2023, as well as doubles finals in the last two seasons. The winner plays Linda Noskova in round two.
Teenagers Hannah Klugman and Mimi Xu are set for this week’s main draw as wild cards. Fresh off reaching the junior Roland Garros singles final, Klugman has been dealt a challenging draw against fourth seed and 2024 Birmingham champion Yulia Putintseva.
Meanwhile, Xu opens against Katie Volynets of USA, before a possible clash with Magda Linette.
Elsewhere, top seed Beatriz Haddad Maia plays McCartney Kessler in the first round and second seed Clara Tauson has Kimberly Birrell of Australia.
Brits handed tough draws in first round
In the men’s draw, British wild cards George Loffhagen, Jack Pinnington Jones and Ryan Peniston have all been dealt tough draws at the Lexus Nottingham Open.
Loffhagen, who made the quarter-finals in 2023, will play top seed and world No.98 Luca Nardi in the opening round. The 21-year-old Italian has seven ATP Challenger titles to his name but has never won a title on grass before.
Pinnington Jones will head to Nottingham off the back of an impressive week in Ilkley. The Texas Christian University college star is set to take on 23-year-old American Emilio Nava in the first round – a two-time former junior Grand Slam finalist.
Finally, 2022 Queen’s Club quarter-finalist Peniston will play Colombia’s Daniel Elahi Galan in round one – a former world No.56 who made the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2024.
The Brits will be looking to emulate Jacob Fearnley and Andy Murray as the past two men’s singles champions at the Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre.
There are also a number of British players in qualifying – including Jan Choinski, Arthur Fery, Oliver Bonding and Paul Jubb.
Title Partner
Official Partners
