Wrexham to host north Wales' biggest tennis event
The biggest women's tennis tournament to be played in the UK this year outside of the grass court season is heading to north Wales for the first time.
The Lexus Wrexham Open, a prestigious ITF World Tennis Tour event previously hosted in Shrewsbury, will feature leading British and international tennis stars and will be streamed live on the BBC Sport website and app.
It will take place at Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre between October 19-26 with Mimi Xu leading the Welsh contingent that also includes Megan Davies and Elizabeth Evans.
Event promoter Dave Courteen says the event "will be the biggest tennis tournament ever held in north Wales, as well as the largest women's tennis event in Wales since the Rover Championships in Cardiff in 1996".
Courteen, who has worked closely with the Lawn Tennis Association and Tennis Wales to deliver the tournament added: "Marketa Vondrousova was crowned Wimbledon champion in 2023 just eight months after winning the W100 title at Shrewsbury, so this gives a perfect indication of the profile of this tournament and the quality of players it attracts.
"We know Wrexham is famous for its football club so we want this event to be another way of celebrating what a great city Wrexham is."
The Plas Coch Road venue recently benefitted from a £2.5 million refurbishment, primarily funded by the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund.
Additional support came from Sport Wales and Wrexham Council followed by a further grant from the Welsh Government to bring the lighting up to ITF international tennis standards.
The centre will be transformed during the tournament, with a 600-seat capacity arena constructed around the main show court for spectators.
Caroline Lacy, head of tennis relations and event development at the LTA, said: "We are thrilled to bring women's professional tennis back to Wales for the first time in nearly three decades."
Welsh minister for culture, skills and social partnership Jack Sargeant "was thoroughly impressed" by the venue's facilities.
"These world-class amenities are an important addition to the sporting landscape in north Wales, providing a platform where both elite athletes and grassroots enthusiasts from the local community can train and enjoy their sport," he added.
"Bringing an elite women's tennis tournament to Wrexham for the first time is also an investment in our tourism industry.
Tennis Wales chief executive Simon Johnson said: "This tournament will help to further raise the profile of tennis in Wales and it's an event to really look forward to."
