Latest news with #LexusIlkleyOpen
South Wales Argus
26-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Amarni Banks relished Roehampton experience despite defeat
The 22-year-old, who trains in Loughborough, was defeated by Katarzyna Kawa in straight sets, 6-2 6-4, ensuring that her dream of reaching the fabled lawns of SW19 are put on hold for at least another year. The Lexus Ilkley Open quarter-finalist was defeated in the first four games in the opening set and wasn't able to recover. Despite battling a back from a break down to level the second, Banks was unable to mount a comeback, with Kawa clinching the result to advance into the third round. Though the outcome was not what she had hoped for, Banks admitted she enjoyed every moment of her time at qualifying and she is raring for more. "The crowd here is unbeatable, said Banks. "Every time I've played here over the last two years, I've had a great experience. I've really enjoyed myself. I'm disappointed with the loss but I've had a good past few weeks. "Any match at this level is a positive. Every match is a tough one so to come through them is something I should take confidence from. I'm learning a lot playing at this level and hopefully I get more matches like this. "The game's getting better each year. The players are getting tougher and I have to keep up and do my best to reach that level but I believe I'll get there consistently one day. "Each year I play on the grass I get more comfortable and confident on it. It's a long time away but I'm already looking forward to next year and competing again." Up next for Banks is a switch to the hard court, although that will have to wait. A well-earned rest is next on the cards, with Banks planning to ensure she returns in as best a physical and mental condition as possible. She added: "My opponent played a really good match. "I didn't play my best tennis out there today but I gave it my all physically and mentally and all I can do is take the positives from today and learn from it and move forwards. "It has been pretty full-on the last few weeks so I'm just going to reset before going again after taking everything I've learnt over the past few weeks into the practice courts and coming out stronger. "I'll miss the grass but I'll go back to the hard court and then take my next steps from there." For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website
South Wales Guardian
25-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
McDonald enjoying testing herself in Wimbledon Qualifying
The Preston native led world No.131 Darja Semenistaja by a set and a break during their contest in Roehampton but the wild card was unable to prevent the Latvian from battling back to win 4-6 7-5 6-1. Yet while McDonald's struggle with Semenistaja ended in defeat, the 19-year-old hopes to take lessons from her loss as she bids to reach her full potential. 'It was a really close match throughout,' said McDonald. 'I just came up short towards the end but overall I was pretty happy with my performance and seeing where I'm at. I got a wild card and I'm really grateful for that but I gave it my all and sadly I came up short. 'She's been around at this level for quite a while so her experience was better under pressure in the key moments than me. I'm looking forward to the future and playing more matches like that. 'Just playing in a tournament here in general is a big positive and it's great to get exposure to this level. 'The crowd here was amazing. They were supporting me through the ups and downs and I'm grateful for everyone who came out today.' McDonald arrived in Roehampton in fine form after a groundbreaking week at the LTA's Lexus Ilkley Open. There, she claimed memorable wins over Whitney Osuigwe, Manon Leonard and Han Shi en route to a first round exit against world No.98 Antonia Ružić after a three-set thriller. Though she will not compete in the singles at Wimbledon this summer, McDonald will feature in the doubles alongside Mimi Xu after the two were awarded wild cards. And McDonald admits that she can't wait to join forces with her good friend and compatriot to take on the lawns of SW19 later this summer. McDonald added: 'It'll be good to play with Mimi again. 'She's a great player, all-rounded, really nice and kind off the court and we get on really well so I'm looking forward to this partnership. 'I wish the best for every wild card who got in. We all deserve to be in this position and get the exposure to these matches and they're all a great group of girls.' For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website
South Wales Argus
25-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
McDonald enjoying testing herself in Wimbledon Qualifying
The Preston native led world No.131 Darja Semenistaja by a set and a break during their contest in Roehampton but the wild card was unable to prevent the Latvian from battling back to win 4-6 7-5 6-1. Yet while McDonald's struggle with Semenistaja ended in defeat, the 19-year-old hopes to take lessons from her loss as she bids to reach her full potential. 'It was a really close match throughout,' said McDonald. 'I just came up short towards the end but overall I was pretty happy with my performance and seeing where I'm at. I got a wild card and I'm really grateful for that but I gave it my all and sadly I came up short. 'She's been around at this level for quite a while so her experience was better under pressure in the key moments than me. I'm looking forward to the future and playing more matches like that. 'Just playing in a tournament here in general is a big positive and it's great to get exposure to this level. 'The crowd here was amazing. They were supporting me through the ups and downs and I'm grateful for everyone who came out today.' McDonald arrived in Roehampton in fine form after a groundbreaking week at the LTA's Lexus Ilkley Open. There, she claimed memorable wins over Whitney Osuigwe, Manon Leonard and Han Shi en route to a first round exit against world No.98 Antonia Ružić after a three-set thriller. Though she will not compete in the singles at Wimbledon this summer, McDonald will feature in the doubles alongside Mimi Xu after the two were awarded wild cards. And McDonald admits that she can't wait to join forces with her good friend and compatriot to take on the lawns of SW19 later this summer. McDonald added: 'It'll be good to play with Mimi again. 'She's a great player, all-rounded, really nice and kind off the court and we get on really well so I'm looking forward to this partnership. 'I wish the best for every wild card who got in. We all deserve to be in this position and get the exposure to these matches and they're all a great group of girls.' For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cameron Norrie leads British charge as men's entries for Lexus Ilkley Open confirmed
Great Britain's Cameron Norrie will travel to Yorkshire next month among the top seeds as the LTA today confirmed the men's entry list for the 2025 Lexus Ilkley Open. Norrie, a former British number one and world number eight, has won five ATP Tour titles, including the Masters 1000 Indian Wells title in 2021, and reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2022. Billy Harris, whose last appearance in Ilkley came in qualifying in 2018, is hoping for a strong summer to break into the world's top 100 for the first time, having reached three semi-finals on British grass last summer in Surbiton, Nottingham and Eastbourne, as well as a run to his first ATP Tour quarter final at Queen's which included a career-best win over then world number 32 Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Other players joining Norrie and Harris include 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, who reached a career-high of number three in the world in 2018 and has a history on British grass, claiming the title in 2018 at the Queen's Club in London, Australia's Jason Kubler, a champion in Ilkley in 2023, and the USA's Chris Eubanks, a former world number 29 and Wimbledon quarter finalist. Poland's Kamil Majchrzak is the highest ranked player to enter the event, currently ranked 88 in the world. The full entry list can be found here: Lexus Ilkley Open Tennis Event Player Entry List As part of a revamped summer calendar announced by the LTA last year, the Lexus Ilkley Open has moved to the second week of June, and this year's event features a WTA 125 level event for the first time alongside an ATP Challenger 125 draw, having previously been an ITF W100 level event. The WTA entry list was confirmed earlier this month, with Britain's Harriet Dart and 2024 winner Rebecca Marino among the names set to compete. Rik Smith, Tournament Director of the Lexus Ilkley Open, said, 'After recently confirming a strong WTA list, the entries for the men's event mean spectators travelling to Ilkley this summer are in for a treat. To have the likes of Cam, who has been among the world's best players for a number of years, and Billy, whose performance last year was one of the stories of the British grass court season, along with a great mix of established names and rising stars of the sport, shows the pull this event has, and that we can look forward to seeing world-class action on show.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Harriet Dart and defending champion Rebecca Marino set for 2025 Lexus Ilkley Open
British women's number four Harriet Dart and 2024 champion Rebecca Marino are set to compete in the women's draw at the 2025 Lexus Ilkley Open, with the entry list confirmed by the LTA. Dart has been a key figure in recent Lexus Great Britain Billie Jean King Cup teams, and enjoyed a strong 2024 season which saw her reach a career-high singles ranking of 70, including notable performances on grass at Wimbledon, where she reached the third round, and in Eastbourne, where she reached the quarter finals. Joining Dart will be the 2024 women's singles champion from Ilkley, Rebecca Marino. The Canadian, who has a career-high singles ranking of 38, triumphed over France's Jessika Ponchet in last year's final, with the Frenchwoman also returning to see if she can go one step further. Other names set to travel to Ilkley include US rising star Iva Jovic, a former junior world number two, and the Philippines' Alexandra Eala, who is enjoying a breakout year on the WTA Tour, including reaching the semi-finals of the recent WTA 1000 Miami Open. The full entry list can be found here: Lexus Ilkley Open Tennis Event Player Entry List As part of a revamped summer calendar announced by the LTA last year, the Lexus Ilkley Open has moved to the second week of June, and this year's event features a WTA 125 level event for the first time alongside an ATP Challenger 125 draw, having previously been an ITF W100 level event. The ATP Challenger entry list will be confirmed later in May. Rik Smith, Tournament Director of the Lexus Ilkley Open, said, 'We're thrilled to be welcoming another high-level group of players to Ilkley this summer. As one of the world's most spectacular settings for tennis, this event consistently attracts some of the world's best to Yorkshire, and we're looking forward to seeing more world class tennis in 2025 as we welcome Harriet, Rebecca and the rest of the WTA competitors to Ilkley.'
