Xu beats third seed Mikulskyte at Wrexham Open

Mimi Xu enjoyed notable wins at tournaments in Birmingham, Ilkley and Nottingham last season

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.

"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."

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.

Mika Stojsavljevic, 16, was in impressive form as she beat eighth seed Julia Avdeeva 6-4, 6-2 to set up a last-16 tie against fellow Brit Amarni Banks.