Mimi Xu has nothing to lose and a coach who knows Emma Raducanu's game

Times

a day ago

Monday's first-round match at Wimbledon between Emma Raducanu and Mimi Xu is absolutely fascinating. Four years after Raducanu emerged into the wider consciousness of the British public by reaching the fourth round at the age of 18, here is Xu's chance as a 17-year-old wild card to make her breakthrough by attempting to beat a compatriot she has long looked up to.
Brimming under this is an interesting subplot that I feel has been understated in the build-up to this contest. Sitting in Xu's player box on No1 Court will be Nigel Sears, the knowledgeable and respected British coach who is now guiding Xu in her transition from the junior to the professional circuit alongside the LTA national coach Katie O'Brien. There may be some déjà vu for Sears as he was the coach working with Raducanu during that memorable run here in 2021.
Despite splitting soon after, Sears will know the Raducanu game inside out by observing her journey ever since on the tour. It is far from the first time that a coach has come up against a former pupil, but I always believe that these reunions add an extra boost to the popcorn value of the match.
As Sears did for Raducanu when she made her first appearance on a Wimbledon show court, he will look to ease Xu's nerves about the prospect of playing on No1 Court. It can be quite overwhelming for a younger player to suddenly step up into a big stadium like this, with a capacity of 12,000, after predominantly playing in front of a handful of spectators on small courts in the lower tiers. Unlike the other grand-slam tournaments, there is no possibility to practise on No1 Court beforehand because the grass has to be protected for matches.
This is where it goes beyond being a tennis player who can hit a ball and follow tactics. It is about being able to perform as if you are on stage. This is why my coach, Owen Davidson, took me out on No1 Court before I played Chris Evert in the third round at the age of 17 in 1984. We walked to the side of the court and he made me stand there, look around and absorb the scale of the whole stadium. I took in the surroundings and the space of the court before the stands filled up for the match. Although I went on to lose 6-3, 6-4, it was important as I felt more settled out there as a result of my pre-match visit.
Another interesting factor psychologically is the fact that Xu was 13 years old when she watched Raducanu win the US Open in 2021. In an interview over the weekend she came across as a really sweet girl, but also looked in awe of Raducanu as someone she has looked up to since a young age. She mentioned that when they practised together, Raducanu was so kind towards her. For someone so inexperienced like Xu, it can then be a challenge initially to put this aside in a first competitive match against someone who has inspired her so much.
Ultimately, the more experienced Raducanu is the favourite to come through this all-British clash, but it will be interesting to see if Xu can step up to this level with her smart game and strong work ethic. She has tools that are well-suited to grass, including powerful groundstrokes and a decent slice backhand, and has claimed two wins against top-100 opposition, beating Alycia Parks in Birmingham and Katie Volynets in Nottingham.
Even if Raducanu progresses, the path ahead has some high hurdles. Either the 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova or the reigning Nottingham Open champion McCartney Kessler awaits in the second round, with the world No1 Aryna Sabalenka a likely third-round opponent. A repeat of last year's run to the fourth round looks extremely challenging.
The fact that Raducanu is a grand-slam champion and the British No1 means that there is also significant pressure to win Wimbledon regardless of her world ranking of No40. There is no question of her talent and athletic ability, but she has struggled to step up against top-ten opposition, with three wins in 15 matches. At least there is a small sign of encouragement here that two of those wins were on grass, against Maria Sakkari at Wimbledon and Jessica Pegula at Eastbourne last year.
I love watching Raducanu play, particularly the way she hits the ball with that effortless rhythmical style. She also has a great backhand slice and possesses some of the best volleys in the women's game. But it remains the case that, almost four years after her breakthrough here, she is still finding her way on the tour, whether it be with her approach against the very best players or her coaching set-up.
While it is a push to hope for a British Wimbledon winner in the women's singles this year, the overall state of the game in this country is in good shape. Raducanu, Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal were all ranked in the world's top 50 last week, making it the first time that three British females were ranked at this level since I was in a trio with Jo Durie and Anne Hobbs in 1986.
Believe me, I know from experience that you all collectively improve by pushing each other on competitively as a group. You are all aware of each other's progress on the tour and a rivalry develops in which you are trying to outdo the others. We have seen this recently with Raducanu and Boulter vying for the status of British No1, with Kartal snapping at their heels.
British tennis also has a trio of teenagers battling away at the same time. Xu, Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic — the latter two are both aged 16 — will all make their Wimbledon debuts this year through wild cards, which is an important step in their development. At this age it is particularly beneficial to be part of a group so the spotlight is not too intense on one player alone, and it will be interesting to see where their respective careers go from here.
Looking at the wider draw, I would love to see a rematch in the final of the French Open final between the top seed Sabalenka and the No2 seed Coco Gauff. It reminds me of the days when we wished for a final showdown between Evert and Martina Navratilova, which came to fruition five times during the 1970s and 1980s.
Sabalenka was understandably bitterly disappointed after losing from a set up against Gauff at Roland Garros, but she has looked in good spirits again during her practice week here. It helps that she is a very secure and supportive team around her, who are also very professional in the way they handle every area of her tennis. No stone is left unturned by team Sabalenka.
Gauff, meanwhile, has come so far since her error-strewn defeat by her American compatriot Emma Navarro in the fourth round here last year. Her resilience and perseverance has shone through, culminating in that comeback win against Sabalenka when it initially looked as if she was being thoroughly overpowered. With a second grand-slam title now under her belt, the 21-year-old has what it takes to go all the way at Wimbledon.