Wales’ no.1 junior tennis player, Mimi Xu, will once again be gr-acing the grass courts at Wimbledon after receiving a wildcard entry to the upcoming, prestigious Ladies’ Qualifying event.
Ranked among the top 40 junior players world-wide, Swansea-born Mimi (15) will compete in her first play-off match this week (Tuesday, 27 June) — before the Junior Wimbledon Championships begin on 08 July.
Mimi is no stranger to success on the court — with recent accolades including being crowned singles champion at the 2022 LTA Under-18 Junior National Championships and doubles champion at the ITF JA Merida in December 2022.
Setting her sights on the upcoming tournament (although not on the strawberries and cream like most), Mimi will be making a strong return to the sport following a recent injury and a quarterfinal doubles run at the Junior French Open.
The 2023 tournament marks the third consecutive year that Mimi has been involved in one or more events at Wimbledon — a testament to her level and her unwavering commitment to tennis.
Expressing her gratitude, Mimi said, “I’m extremely grateful and excited to be given such an amazing opportunity. I feel like my game has really developed since last year, and so I’m looking forward to competing at such a high level.
“I’m ready to give it my all for Wales — and to use it as another opportunity to learn from all of the professional tour players.”
Chris Lewis, Head of Performance at Tennis Wales, said: “Being able to follow Mimi’s progress in the Ladies’ Qualifying event is great news for everyone involved in Welsh tennis. Diolch to the All England Club for giving her the wild card, of course!
“It’s set to be an exciting fortnight for Mimi, as she’ll also be competing against some of the world’s best young tennis stars in the junior championships. She’ll be giving her all on the court, and we’ll be supporting her on every step of the way as she continues to inspire young players across Wales to pick up a racket.”
