Dudeney edges Bandecchi as Burrage and Klugman join British quarter-final charge in Wrexham

Alicia Dudeney beat seventh seed Susan Bandecchi in an epic second-round match at the Lexus Wrexham Open at Wrexham Tennis and Padel Centre on day three of the tournament (18-25 October), joining Jodie Burrage and Hannah Klugman in reaching Friday's quarter-finals. The trio’s progress means three British players will be in action on Friday at the World Tennis Tour W100 event.

Dudeney extended her winning run to seven matches in the W100 competition by outlasting Bandecchi 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 in a contest that lasted two hours and 51 minutes. The event is being staged at Wrexham Tennis and Padel Centre with coverage available on BBC Sport online and BBC iPlayer. Dudeney will face Elsa Jacquemot in the quarter-finals.

Dudeney was followed into the Carden Park Arena by 17-year-old Hannah Klugman, who produced another strong performance to defeat higher-ranked Czech Anna Siskova 6-2 6-4. Klugman reached the French Open junior girls' final last year and is currently ranked 341. She will meet sixth seed Rebecca Sramkova from Slovakia in the last eight.

Jodie Burrage ensured there would be three British players in action on Friday by beating fourth seed Noma Noha Akugue 6-1 7-6 (11-9). Burrage's victory sets up a quarter-final against Marina Bassols Ribera, the fifth seed. Bassols Ribera reached that stage after defeating Australian Lizette Cabrera.

There was a big upset elsewhere as top seed Anna Blinkova, the French player currently 72 in the world rankings, fell at the second-round stage. Blinkova lost 6-3 6-2. Her conqueror was Suzan Lamens from the Netherlands.

The form of the British trio has helped bolster home fans after reigning champion Mimi Xu, from Swansea, opted not to defend her title this year. Xu is instead competing at the W75 Saguenay tournament in Canada.

The tournament schedule lists quarter-finals singles and doubles semi-finals on Friday, 23 October, semi-finals singles on Saturday, 24 October, and the singles and doubles finals on Sunday, 25 October. Past champions at the event include Marketa Vondrousova (Cze) in 2022, Viktorija Golubic (Swi) in 2023, Sonay Kartal (GB) in 2024 and Mimi Xu (GB) in 2025.

Quarter-finals singles and doubles semi-finals are scheduled for Friday, 23 October; on that day Dudeney will face Elsa Jacquemot, Klugman meets sixth seed Rebecca Sramkova and Burrage plays Marina Bassols Ribera.