Wrexham is set to host the UK’s biggest tennis tournament outside of the grass court season this week as stars head north for the Wrexham Open.

Three Welsh players are set to feature in the Lexus Wrexham Open, which started yesterday on the indoor courts at Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre.

Mimi Xu, who became the first Welsh player to play in the singles main draw at Wimbledon for 20 years in June, is in the main draw of the ITF World Tour event.

There’s also more Welsh representation in the qualifiers with Megan Davies and Elizabeth Evans both playing in the prestigious tournament.

Davies, 23, will be in familiar surroundings having trained as a junior at Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre for around 10 years.

Currently studying for a Masters at Loughborough University, Davies has played for North Wales and Wales on many occasions.

The current women’s doubles British University champion, Davies spent four years at Weber State University in USA, and earlier this week earned her first WTA ranking point at the ITF W35 Birmingham tournament at Edgbaston Priory.

Evans, 17, is the current Tennis Wales Junior Player of the Year, and has regularly played for South Wales and Wales.

Coached by Craig Ingham out of Swansea Tennis Centre and part of the Tennis Wales National Training programme, Evans has a highest Junior ITF ranking of 340 earlier this year.

She recently committed to Harvard University where she will go in August of next year.

Xu, from Swansea, who celebrated her 18th birthday earlier this month, has a career-high singles world ranking of 309, achieved earlier this year following an impressive grass court season.

Xu partnered Czech player Vendula Valdmannova to the doubles title at the ITF W35 Birmingham tournament yesterday after they beat Brit Alicia Dudeney, who has received a main draw singles wild card for Wrexham, and Slovakian player Katarina Kuzmova 6-3, 7-6 in the final.

Dave Courteen, tournament promoter, said: “It’s great news that three Welsh players will be playing at the Lexus Wrexham Open.

“Mimi Xu has had an excellent year as she continues to impress, while we are also looking forward to watching Megan Davies and Elizabeth Evans playing in the qualifiers. It will be great experience for them and hopefully they can both progress to the main draw. They are sure to receive lots of support from Welsh tennis fans.

“Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre has been transformed ahead of the tournament with stands to accommodate up to 800 spectators assembled next to the courts.

“There’s great excitement that this event, the biggest women’s tennis tournament, outside of the grass court season, to be played in the UK this year, is being played in North Wales for the first time, and we are looking forward to a fantastic week.”

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