British No. 1 Emma Raducanu defeats 17-year-old Mimi Xu 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Wimbledon second round

While Carlos Alcaraz battled five gruelling sets under the searing Wimbledon sun, Emma Raducanu delivered a crisp reminder of how a Grand Slam opener should be handled. The British No. 1 made light work of teenager Mimi Xu, powering past her 6-3, 6-3 in under 90 minutes to book a spot in the second round of the Championships.

On Court No. 1 — Wimbledon’s second show court — Raducanu struck a composed figure against her younger, less experienced opponent. It was a clash of generations and trajectories: Xu, 17, still juggling A-levels and ITF events, versus Raducanu, 22, a former US Open champion rediscovering consistency after years of injury and scrutiny.

The encounter had the added drama of being an all-British affair, which gave the crowd a homegrown heroine to cheer for regardless of the outcome. But from the moment Raducanu opted to receive serve, the balance was clear. She broke Xu immediately, her relentless pressure and baseline aggression too much for the teenager in the early exchanges.

Xu, who had watched Raducanu’s 2021 US Open triumph as a fan at the LTA academy in Loughborough, was visibly nervous early on. Wild swings and double faults marked the first few games. By contrast, Raducanu played with intent and clarity — her signature “Come on!” battle cries punctuating each successful point.

But to her credit, Xu began to settle. After saving a break point at 2-0 down, she finally got on the scoreboard to the crowd’s delight. A shout of “Come on, Britain!” echoed across the court, encapsulating the supportive yet competitive mood of the match.

Xu adjusted her tactics — drawing Raducanu into the net, varying pace and angles — and showcased flashes of her talent. A clean forehand winner here, an intelligent drop shot there. But the consistency wasn’t there yet. Raducanu, with her clean groundstrokes and superior shot selection, quickly reasserted control.

By the end of the first set, Raducanu had established total dominance. A lethal body serve forced Xu into an air swing. Then, chasing down a wide ball, Xu slipped and fell, a metaphor for the gulf in composure between the two players.

The second set followed a similar rhythm. Xu showed fight, saving break points and occasionally outmanoeuvring Raducanu, but each time she threatened momentum, Raducanu extinguished it. The world No. 39 broke twice more to wrap up the win without ever being seriously threatened.

Despite the one-sided scoreline, this was no embarrassment for Xu. Her wildcard entry into the draw came after a superb rise through the lower ranks, including two recent wins over top-100 players on grass. Facing Raducanu on Wimbledon’s grand stage will serve as invaluable experience for the teenager — and a reminder of the level she aspires to reach.

For Raducanu, meanwhile, this was a quietly important win. Since her fairytale run in New York, she has battled injuries, coaching changes, and questions about her long-term trajectory. But with a solid 2025 season so far and a return to the world’s top 40, she looks poised for a deeper run at SW19 this year.

As she left the court to a standing ovation, Raducanu looked relaxed and focused — a dangerous combination. “I’m feeling good,” she told reporters. “One match at a time, but I’m enjoying the challenge.”

With the heatwave intensifying and tougher opponents ahead, the road will only get harder. But on this scorching Monday evening, Raducanu reminded Wimbledon — and herself — why she still belongs among tennis’s elite.