At just 17 years old, Mimi Xu is about to live a moment many tennis fans can only dream of—stepping onto one of Wimbledon’s biggest courts to face her childhood idol, Emma Raducanu.
But for Xu, this isn’t just a starstruck encounter. She’s stepping in with belief, confidence, and a strong sense that she has what it takes to win.
Riding High on Recent Success
Xu’s self-belief isn’t just wishful thinking.
She’s been on a roll lately, making it to the quarter-finals in Birmingham and celebrating her first-ever WTA Tour win in Nottingham.
Her game, she says, feels great on grass. “I’ve been playing really well lately,” she shared.
“I think my game suits grass courts really nicely, and I’m feeling super confident right now.
I just want to go out there, enjoy it, and give it everything I’ve got. If I do that, I believe I have a real shot.”
A Dream Draw and a Surprise Reveal
The moment she found out who she was playing was anything but ordinary.
“We were moving into an Airbnb earlier today,” Xu recalled with a laugh.
“I got a message from my coach saying, ‘What an exciting draw!’
And then my mum started getting texts from people saying how exciting it was—but nobody would say the name!”
Xu was left on edge.
“I kept thinking, ‘Who am I playing? What’s going on?’
Eventually someone finally said it’s Emma. And honestly, I just felt so excited. I feel like I’m ready.”
Idol-Turned-Opponent
For Xu and other young British talents—like fellow debutants Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavlevic—Raducanu’s 2021 US Open win was a game-changing inspiration.
Xu still remembers the moment vividly.
“I was at Loughborough with the other girls from the academy,” she said.
“We were all huddled around the TV watching her in the final. She’s definitely been a huge role model for us.”
And Xu isn’t just a fan from afar. She’s trained with Raducanu before.
“The first time I hit with her was about three years ago. She was really sweet and down-to-earth. Just a lovely person.”
Shared Heritage, Shared Brilliance
Beyond their tennis careers, Xu and Raducanu share even more.
Both come from Chinese heritage—Xu’s parents are both from China, and Raducanu’s mother is Chinese.
And they’re both academic standouts, too.
Xu completed her maths A Level two years early and plans to take economics next year—just like Raducanu once did.
She’s also studying biology and even managed to sit two biology exams right after competing in Birmingham and Nottingham.
With three A Levels to Raducanu’s two, she might soon win the academic battle.
But can she claim victory on the court as well?
What’s Coming Next?
As the big day approaches, all eyes will be on the rising Welsh star.
Facing a Grand Slam champion on one of the world’s most prestigious stages would shake many young players—but Xu’s cool composure, academic grit, and on-court momentum suggest she’s more than ready.
The question now is simple: Can Mimi Xu turn admiration into a career-defining upset?
Wimbledon is about to find out.