British star Amarni Banks happy with her performance as she enjoys first round victory at Lexus Wrexham Open
Pictured: Amarni Banks on her way to a first round victory at the Lexus Wrexham Open. Picture: James Baylis.
British star Amarni Banks was happy with her performance as she enjoyed a first round victory over Finland’s Laura Hietaranta as the main draw matches got underway at the Lexus Wrexham Open. Banks, the current British No. 9, was a 6-4, 6-0 winner over Hietaranta as she impressed in front of a supportive crowd at Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre.
“Obviously, the first match of a tournament, it’s always tricky,” said Banks. “But I thought I played really well and to come through that I’m very happy.”
Asked what her hopes are for the week ahead, Banks responded: “Honestly, just to put my game out on court. I’m working on a lot of things and each match for me is just a learning experience, so, yes, just play as many matches as possible.”
The Lexus Wrexham Open has replaced the Lexus W100 Shrewsbury in the LTA Performance Competitions Calendar for 2025, with Banks impressively reaching the final of the prestigious ITF World Tennis Tour event when it was held in Shropshire in 2023.
“It’s got similar vibes to Shrewsbury,” added Banks, reflecting on the support she received during her first round match. "The crowd is amazing, like the last couple of years, and I think it’s set up really well here.
“I was here a very long time ago. I played an outdoor tournament, so it’s really nice to come back.”
The three other British players in singles action today fell to first round exits. Ranah Stoiber was unfortunate to be edged out in a final set tiebreak as she lost 1-6, 6-0, 7-6 to fifth seed Raluca Georgiana Serban from Cyprus. Freya Christie was beaten 6-0, 6-4 by Estonia's Elena Malygina, while 16-year-old Tegan Bush, having enjoyed two good wins in progressing from qualifying, saw her Wrexham run ended with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat against Jana Otzipka from Belgium.
There was an early exit for second seed Camilla Rosatello as the Italian lost 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 to Katarina Kuzmova from Slovakia in a three-hour contest, with fourth seed Kathinka von Deichmann from Liechtenstein recovering well from losing the opening set to get the better of Demi Tran from the Netherlands 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. Czech qualifier Lucie Havlickova progressed with a 6-4, 7-6 victory over Francesca Curmi from Malta, while Andre Lukosiute from Lithuania was the day’s other winner as she beat German player Gina Marie Dittmann 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.
The remaining eight first round singles matches, which include rising Welsh star Mimi Xu facing third seed Justina Mikulskyte from Lithuania, will be played tomorrow. Xu made her first appearance of the tournament today when she teamed up with Ella McDonald to overcome Mika Stojsavljevic and Havlickova, playing her second match of the day, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the doubles.
Two more Welsh players also featured in the doubles. Megan Davies, who trained at Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre as a junior, partnered Lily Hutchings as they lost 6-4, 6-3 against Katarina Kuzmova and Julia Avdeeva. Elizabeth Evans, who trains at Swansea Tennis Centre, played alongside Georgiana Mititelu as they were defeated 6-1, 6-0 by Naima Karamoko and Jessika Ponchet, the French player who is this week’s top seed in the singles, and will face British qualifier Indianna Spink in the first round tomorrow.
Tickets to watch tomorrow'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.