"I felt much more comfortable on court today," Burdekin, who had to come from a set down to win his first round match on Tuesday (July 16), said.

But standing in his way of a place in the final is world number three Lucas Sithole of South Africa, who defeated Burdekin's teammate Antony Cotterill 6-2, 6-1 to reach the semis.

"It's never easy coming back from injury, but I'm pleased with today and will have to step it up to play Lucas," continued Burdekin.

"I've beaten him twice this season, but he's one of the top players out there."

World number one David Wagner of the United States also overcame British opposition to reach the semi-finals, defeating Richard Green 6-1, 6-2 to earn a last four tie against Sarah Hunter, after she whitewashed Israel's Yosi Genish 6-0, 6-0.

There were no upsets in the men's and women's singles, however, as all eight seeds on both sides advanced to the quarterfinals, with four whitewash victories achieved by the seeds in their second round ties.

British number one Gordon Reid overpowered Assaf Stokol of Israel without dropping a game to set up a quarterfinal tie against Frenchman Frédéric Cattaneo, who beat Briton Alexander Jewitt 6-3, 6-3.

Top seed Stéphane Houdet successfully navigated his second round tie to reach the quarterfinals at the British Open

Cattaneo's fellow Frenchmen, top seed Stéphane Houdet and world number eight Michael Jeremiasz, both successfully qualified for the next round without dropping a set, setting up ties with Dutchmen Ronald Vink and world number three Maikel Scheffers respectively.

Former world junior number one Gustavo Fernandez defeated Britain's current junior number one Alfie Hewett 6-0, 6-1, and will play Gérard Joachim of Belgium after he came through against another Briton, David Phillipson.

In the women's singles, Germany's world number one Sabine Ellerbrock advances following a straight-sets win over Miho Nijo of Japan, and last year's runner-up Aniek van Koot of the Netherlands saw off Britain's Lauren Jones 6-1, 6-0.

Dutch third seed Jiske Griffioen and fifth seed Kgothatso Montjane of South Africa will face off for a place in the final four after they came through ties against Israel's Veronica Zvjk and Turkey's Büşra Ün respectively without dropping a game.

"Today wasn't the toughest match, but the next one will be much tougher and all I can do is go out there and do the best I can like the previous times I've played here and hopefully I can get the result," said Montjane.

The top two British players, Jordanne Whiley and Lucy Shuker, advanced to the next round with wins over Colombia's Angelica Bernal and Christine Schoenn of France respectively.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
July 2013: Home favourite Phillipson causes upset at wheelchair tennis British Open to progress to second round
July 2013: Reid to draw inspiration from compatriot Murray at wheelchair tennis British Open