Xu beats third seed Mikulskyte at Wrexham Open

Lexus Wrexham Open

Venue: Wrexham Tennis and Padel Centre Date: 21-26 October

Coverage: Watch live on BBC Sport online and BBC iPlayer

Wales’ Mimi Xu progressed to the second round of the Wrexham Open with a battling win over third seed Justina Mikulskyte.

Mikulskyte took the first set 6-4 in 59 minutes after a marathon seventh game saw the score reach deuce 14 times before the Lithuanian secured the crucial break of serve.

Xu, 18, responded in the second set, breaking Mikulskyte’s serve in the final game to win 6-4 and force a decider.

Despite her opponent being ranked more than 150 spots higher in the world, Xu took control in the third set, breaking her serve twice en route to a 6-1 win.

Xu will face another Lithuanian, Andre Lukosiute, in the second round.

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There was a commanding win for Xu’s doubles partner Ella McDonald.

McDonald, 20, broke fellow Brit Alicia Dudeney twice in the first set to take it 6-3 before dominating the second set to win 6-1.

McDonald will play the Czech Republic’s Ivan Sebestova in the second round after she beat Swiss seventh seed Valentina Ryser in three sets.