Support from Wrexham crowd helps rising Welsh star Mimi Xu complete impressive victory.

Pictured: Mimi Xu was pleased to complete a first round victory at the Lexus Wrexham Open. Picture: James Baylis.

Rising Welsh star Mimi Xu said the support of the home crowd really helped as she booked a place in round two of the Lexus Wrexham Open.

The 18-year-old from Swansea, who became the first Welsh player for 20 years to play in the singles main draw at Wimbledon this summer, lost the opening set of her match against third seed Justina Mikulskyte from Lithuania.

But Xu then hit back in style to complete a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory to set up a second round meeting today with Andre Lukosiute, another Lithuanian player, at Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre.

"It was a great battle,” said Xu. "I'm really proud of myself for getting through it. I think the home crowd really helped me in the third set.

"When I was 5-2 up (in the second set) and it went 5-4, they really got me through that last game and got my spirits up, got my energy up, and they kept my energy up for the whole way.”

Pleased to have the chance to play a tournament in Wales, Xu added: "Yes, first Welsh home crowd - it's amazing. 

"They really kept my energy up, my spirits up through the whole match and I think ultimately at the end that’s what helped me get over the line, my energy and my positivity.”

One of the day’s two all-British clashes produced an exciting match with Lily Miyazaki, the current British No. 8, pushed all the way by 17-year-old wild card Ruby Cooling before eventually sealing a 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 win.

“It was really tough out there,” said Miyazaki. "First rounds can always be tricky, but Ruby came out and played really well. I think she was swinging pretty freely and it was a real battle out there.

“In the second set as well, I think she was serving for it at 5-4, so I’m happy I managed to turn it around.”

This week’s ITF World Tennis Tour event has given Miyazaki the opportunity to visit Wrexham for the first time. 

“I’ve actually never been to Wrexham before and obviously this tournament’s moved from Shrewsbury,” she added. "They’ve done a really good job here, it feels like a really nice venue. The organisation’s great, so (tournament promoter) Dave Courteen’s done a really good job.”

Miyazaki will next face top seed Jessika Ponchet after the French player, who reached the third round of the US Open last year, progressed with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over British qualifier Indianna Spink, who was playing an opponent almost 800 places higher in the current world rankings.

Yesterday’s other all-British match saw Ella McDonald enjoy an impressive 6-3, 6-1 victory over Alicia Dudeney to set up a second round meeting with Ivana Sebestova after the Czech qualifier beat seventh seed Valentina Ryser 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

British teenager Mika Stojsavljevic continued her fine form - the 16-year-old won the ITF W35 Birmingham tournament last week - by securing a 6-4, 6-2 victory over eighth seed Julia Avdeeva.

Stojsavljevic, who won the 2024 girls’ singles title at the US Open, will now face British No.9 Amarni Banks in the second round in Wrexham.

Alice Gillan, the first Brit in action yesterday, lost 6-3, 6-1 against Kajsa Rinaldo Persson from Sweden, who will next play Harmony Tan, the French player, who hit the headlines in 2022 by beating Serena Williams at Wimbledon in the final appearance at SW19 for the seven-time champion. 

Tan recovered from losing the opening set to beat Croatian Iva Primorac Pavicic 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Tickets to watch today's matches, which start at 10am, from court-side stands cost £17.50, with under-16s tickets also available priced £12, which includes a 44-page tournament programme.

Pictured: British No. 8 Lily Miyazaki also booked a place in the second round of Wrexham’s ITF World Tennis Tour event. Picture: Malcolm Couzens.