Latest news with #EmmaRaducanu
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sport
- Sky News
Meet the three British teenagers handed Wimbledon wildcards
It's every young tennis player's dream to be good enough to one day play in the Wimbledon main draw against the best in the world. For three British teenagers, that's exactly what's about to happen. Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic, both 16, and 17-year-old Mimi Xu have all been rewarded for their exceptional results with Wimbledon wildcards. Essential guide to Wimbledon 2025 Xu is going to have the full-blown Wimbledon experience. She's drawn just about the most high-profile match of the first round, an all-British encounter against Emma Raducanu. 1:26 Big court, big crowds - it couldn't really have been any bigger in terms of profile, but it seems she was the last to know. "I was moving to my Airbnb this morning and I got a text from my coach saying it's a great draw... and everyone was texting my mum... and I'm like 'who am I playing... what's going on?' And eventually I get to know it's Emma Raducanu." Xu, from Swansea, has already left junior tennis behind and has started playing on the main tour with some good results, including wins over top 100 players. She says she's confident in her game, has practised with Emma a few times and is just going to try to "embrace every moment". "It doesn't come around very often, this won't happen a lot in my lifetime, so I'm just ready to go out and enjoy it... enjoy every moment. I'll probably get the full 10 years of Wimbledon experience in one day, so yeah... I'm ready for it!" Klugman, who is a local and lives walking distance from the All England Club, will still contest the girls' title this year and has just reached the final of the French Open Juniors. Still, it's a massive step up to play in the main draw and she's been taking advice from someone who knows a fair bit about playing with the pressure of being a Brit at Wimbledon. "Tim Henman spoke to me and basically said: 'What is the worst that can happen? You lose, that's literally it... just enjoy it'. It's not going to change me, it's just a little stepping stone." Klugman has drawn Canada's Leylah Fernandez, the 29th seed, who lost in the final of the US Open to Emma Raducanu. She has been a hitting partner for her before, but there will be nerves. "Obviously, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have some nerves, but I think you know I embrace it, I love these opportunities, I love the pressure. No matter what happens... I'm going to go for it!" Mika Stojsavljevic, from Ealing in west London, is the reigning US Open Girls' champion. She will also play the junior event here, but is excited to take her place in her home grand slam. For these teenagers, it's like a free hit. They're not expected to win, but they are expected to soak up the experience. And for their parents, it's also special. "I remember FaceTiming my mum after I found out [about the wildcard], she just couldn't believe it. She just said, no you didn't... and I said 'yeah, I did' - really excited." She will be up against the 31st seed, Ashlyn Krueger, and she's ready for it. "I love playing personally on bigger courts at bigger occasions, I think it makes me rise to the challenge and play even better. So hopefully that will be the case here as well." There are 23 British players lining up at Wimbledon this year, and these three junior stars have brought down the average age as well as making a little bit of British tennis history.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Her gran says he's not good enough for her, but here are the clues that British tennis star Emma Raducanu and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz are a perfect pairing
As fairy-tale romances go, it certainly has all the components. During one heady summer in New York, two teenage tennis stars – both supremely talented and beautiful – burst on to the world stage on the hard courts of the US Open. Four years on, what better plot development could there be than a real-life romantic pairing between the ever-smiling Spanish charm of Carlos Alcaraz and the dazzling glamour of Emma Raducanu? Certainly, the world of tennis has been abuzz with rumours about a Hollywood-style love story, ever since it was announced last week that World No 2 Alcaraz – on a high after beating the World No 1 Jannik Sinner in an epic French Open final earlier this month – would be playing mixed doubles with Raducanu, who recently regained her spot as British No 1. She was seen cheering the strapping star on before his win at Queen's Club last weekend and there was even speculation that he had been spotted at the same hotel as her. So the question on every tennis fan's lips is: does the spark between the duo, both 22 (just look at them laughing on camera together as their sporting partnership is unveiled) signal the start of a genuine romance, or more of a convenient 'showmance'? Because even the merest hint that the hottest tennis love affair since Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi might be brewing must be the marketing equivalent of serving an ace at match point. Coincidentally – or not – the pair share both agents (sports marketing giant IMG) and sponsors (Nike and Evian). Emma's company, Harbour 6 Ltd, recorded a profit of £9.6 million in 2023 and she is said to make around £100,000 a year from each of the brands she works with; Carlos, meanwhile, is reported to have made $32 million in off-court endorsements last year. Then there are the organisers of the revamped US Open mixed doubles event, at which the pair will play together. What better publicity could there be than a frisson between the star athletes? Indeed, the US Open is familiar turf to IMG, in its role representing and advising the US Tennis Association (USTA) on international and domestic media rights. As one tennis insider told the Mail this week: 'As lovely as it would be, it all seems very well-orchestrated to me. 'Alcaraz has just won the French Open and is the talk of the town; he's the Wimbledon defending champion. And then there is Raducanu, who might not be winning tournaments but is certainly being talked about all the time. 'It's like a match made in heaven, at least from a marketing and sponsorship perspective.' However, the Mail has learned from others that far from being a partnership engineered by publicity savvy agents, this is more personal. According to a longstanding friend of Alcaraz: 'He was so nervous to ask her to play mixed doubles. Honestly, it was like he was asking her out on a date. He went bright red, like a schoolboy with a crush. 'I've always said Emma would be perfect for him and he blushes every time I mention it. Can you imagine what their children would look like? A super-race of gorgeous, talented athletes. 'I really hope they get together – it'd be wonderful for tennis, and great for Carlos. He's a decent chap. She could do a lot worse.' As to whether anything had actually happened between them, he says: 'If nothing has developed between them it's probably because of shyness, and perhaps they are worried about how it would affect their game. 'Watch this space though – perhaps when things calm down after Wimbledon?' Alcaraz, whose net worth is estimated somewhere north of £35 million, is by all accounts a family-loving young man, who thinks his mum's cooking is the best in the world and about whom no one seems to have a bad to say. He would, therefore, be viewed by many as a great catch. But one person who is unimpressed by him is Emma's granny, who feels he is not good enough for her granddaughter. Niculina Raducanu, 92, told the Mail on Friday she wasn't aware that the British star was seeing anyone. 'She is allowed to have boyfriends, she is 22. But she never talked to me about her love life,' she said. When presented with rumours that she was seeing Alcaraz, and shown a photo of the star, she said through an interpreter: 'I know him from TV, he's that tennis player. 'I'm surprised. I know her to be more particular. A bit picky when it comes to boys. To be honest, I'm not sure he is for her or that there is truth in this.' Using a Romanian phrase, which roughly translates to one who wears their heart on the sleeve, she added: 'I wish for her someone you can read their soul on their face.' So, with the tournament at the All-England Club starting on Monday, what exactly do we know of the friendship between two players with matching megawatt smiles and who grew up playing the junior tennis circuit at the same time? As Raducanu herself says, the pair 'go back a long way'. An old friend of the Bromley-raised star told the Mail that even on the junior circuit the two were close. 'Back in juniors they were always chatting, always gravitating toward each other. I thought they'd end up a couple. It started as a cheeky friendship, then a real bond . . . I think it's magical.' Whether the magic translates into romance or prizes (there's $1million up for grabs at the mixed doubles event) remains to be seen, but it was the US Open, in 2021, where their paths really began to merge. Raducanu made history when she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title, keeping an expectant home nation glued to their television screens in only her fourth-ever professional tournament. Fresh from completing her A-levels, and ranked at No 150 in the world, she delivered the fairy-tale finish nobody had dreamed of. Alcaraz also sprang to prominence, knocking out world No 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas in a five-set tiebreak to reach the fourth round in the biggest win of his career at that time. He went on to reach the quarter-finals, returning to take the title the following year. It is, therefore, fitting that it will be at Flushing Meadow again where they are set to debut as a pair. Since the announcement was made both players have been giddily talking about it. First we had Alcaraz declaring that he couldn't think of anyone better to play with than Raducanu. 'I just asked Emma if she wants to play doubles with me. Yeah, I made that special request.' 'She's gonna be the boss,' he said, adding: 'I've known Emma since a really long time ago, so we know each other. I have really good relationship with her. So it's just gonna be interesting. 'We will try to win. But obviously it's going to be really, really fun.' And asked about the partnership by the BBC this week, Raducanu positively gushed in uncharacteristic fashion. 'He asked me earlier on in the year,' she said. 'I was very surprised, honoured and obviously excited. I just went through the formality of asking my coach, but of course, I was gonna say yes.' Cue coy giggles. There were more giggles when she was quizzed about internet rumours that the duo are 'destined for each other'. She replied, laughing: 'I'm glad the internet is having fun and we're providing some entertainment for everyone.' The pair are both prolific Instagrammers and often 'like' each other's social media posts, but it would seem there is a thread of something deeper, too. Raducanu has spoken of how she got to know the Spaniard at Wimbledon in 2021 and how they have remained friends even though his star has risen, while her career has been blighted by injury, poor performance and the challenge of finding a coach she can gel with. 'He's obviously overtaken me a lot, but it's nice that we have that from a while ago,' she says. 'I think for all of us, we really kind of value those connections that we had from when we were young. Because when you become a bit more known or a bit more successful, you just find yourself reverting back to people you knew from a young age because you're like, that's a real genuine connection, because it becomes very busy and you have a lot more friends, but the ones that you've known for a long time mean a lot more to you.' It would seem the rapport has been noted by those close to Raducanu, too. An agency insider says: 'They are close, and we've been ribbing them about the rumours, of course. 'They're both quite shy – not big daters – but they're comfortable with one another, which is lovely to see. They're almost like brother and sister . . . yet there's definitely a spark. You can feel it.' As for their respective relationship histories, Alcaraz is reported to have broken up with his girlfriend, amateur tennis player Maria Gonzalez Gimenez, in 2022. Raducanu, meanwhile, previously dated Carlo Agostinelli, the Harrow-educated son of billionaire financier Robert Agostinelli, but the two split last summer after a year together. There have been rumours of a frisson with fellow British player Jack Draper – who seems to have been overlooked as a mixed doubles partner (he's playing the same tournament with Olympic champion Qinwen Zhen). A stalwart presence in her player's box through the years has been her childhood friend and fellow child tennis star Benjamin Heynold, a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina, in the US. She's also had to cope with the upsetting ordeal of a stalker who has followed her to several tournaments this year and was recently blocked from buying Wimbledon tickets by organisers. During an interview last year, Alcaraz admitted he was single but added: 'I am looking for someone. It can be difficult as a tennis player to meet the right person because you are travelling all the time.' If anyone could empathise with that it must be Raducanu; her family – Romanian father and Chinese mother – kept a strict rein on her social life growing up. 'My parents were very much against that [boyfriends] as it interfered with training,' she said in an interview last year. 'When I was younger I wasn't even allowed to hang out with my girlfriends. A lot of the time I was very resentful. But it made me very confident and comfortable in my own company, which is also a big strength.' But she was wistful in an interview earlier this year, when she said: 'I think this year I've gone on loads of solo walks, solo coffee dates and just have a lot of time to kind of look inside . . . I've been enjoying it so far, even though it's not necessarily the easiest thing to do, especially when the tour is quite a lonely place.' Could Alcaraz be the man to change that? Sports marketing expert Tim Lopez, CEO of TLNT Global, says if the romance was genuine, it would catapult both players into the stratosphere. 'From a brand positioning profile and marketing perspective, it would be an absolute dream. They would be a good example of where one plus one makes three.' They would be hugely 'complementary', he adds. 'They would join ranks of other famous power couples such as Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, or, outside of tennis, the likes of Becks and Posh.' And if it's all just rumour? 'Leaving aside the impact it may have on them personally,' he says. 'It will have done nothing but promote both their names in the public consciousness and add to their already high profiles. If it's strategic . . . bravo!' As a season of tennis unfolds, wouldn't it be the ultimate sporting fairy-tale if the marketing dream of 'Raducaraz' turned into a genuine love match.
Times
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Times
The British kids coached for Wimbledon — in 6 years' time
It's 9am on a sunny Sunday and, while most children are watching cartoons or heading to the beach, in a south London suburb a group of under-tens is doing fierce battle. 'Keep believing!' one dad shouts from a line of parents barely managing to sit still on plastic chairs, their eyes fixed on their budding tennis stars. 'Come on!' someone's mother yells. Outside, a small boy holding a large racket is being given a whispered lecture about 'staying focused'. On court, the kids are just as serious. 'Let's go!' screams a girl in plaits as she sends a winner sailing past her opponent. There's a lot of grand slam-style grunting as balls are hit with all the aggression (quite a lot, as it turns out) that pre-teens can muster. Welcome to mini Wimbledon. Well, the All England Lawn Tennis Club's 22-acre community centre in Raynes Park — a stone's throw from SW19 — which provides world-class facilities to help Britain's junior talent grow into the next Andy Murray. Actually, forget Murray. These youngsters are more interested in being the next Emma Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open aged 18, or Jack Draper, 23, the world No 4. The latter is an ambassador for the charity Tennis First, which has put on today's tournament and offers grants to talented juniors it feels could break into the world's Top 250. Over the past two decades, it has funded more than 300 Brits — including Draper, Raducanu, Katie Boulter, Jacob Fearnley and Harriet Dart. So is it easy to spot grand slam potential? And what does it take to raise the next Jack or Emma? • Andy Murray to get a statue at Wimbledon 'You can tell at such a young age,' says Abbie Probert, 36, a former junior player and the director of Tennis First. 'Everyone can hit forehands and backhands but there's something that sets them apart, whether it's reading the game tactically or being mentally strong. 'The parents will always be competitive, because they want their child to succeed. I can understand that perception of the pushy parent; they want to encourage them and they don't always know the best way to do that. But if they want it more than the child, it's never going to work. It has to come from the kids or it's game over.' And all that enthusiasm comes with a time limit. To make the Top 250, Probert explains, you need to be on track — with a fully rounded game — by the age of ten. Yes, you read that correctly. 'The kids are like mini pros now,' she says. 'They do warm-ups and match analysis. They have an entourage: tennis coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, psychologists. They're nine and looking at what they eat and how they sleep. They're building a social media following. The tennis player is being shaped.' Looking at the procession of determined youngsters here, racket bags slung over their shoulders, striding to their next match as though it's on Centre Court, it seems hard to disagree. 'I want to play grand slams and be world No 1,' ten-year-old Joshua Lotsu says confidently. If he could win one grand slam? 'Wimbledon,' he says, looking at me as though that's the most obvious thing in the world. 'Well, someone has to,' his father, Lebene, chimes in. Joshua first picked up a racket aged four, during lockdown, when his dad started hitting a softball with him in the family sitting room in nearby Surbiton. 'Straight away he had a knack,' says Lebene, an accountant. After some parental pushing, the head coach at their local (oversubscribed) tennis club gave Joshua a trial. He aced it and got a place on its training programme, aged just five. 'That came as a shock,' Lebene admits. 'That he could have his own coach so young.' Tennis now plays a huge part in family life. Joshua is a pupil at Ewell Castle in Surrey (£5,700 a term), which has a tennis academy attached. He plays for the county and, in February, represented Great Britain during a junior Davis Cup-style event in Nottingham, where his dad wasn't allowed to watch — parents presumably being a fist-pumping distraction. He does 13 hours of tennis a week, mostly at school where 'he'll miss certain lessons, like art, but none of the essential ones', Lebene says. And he already has a team, including his club coach, school coach and a strength coach. 'He tore his calf muscle last year and was out for three months, so it's critical that he strengthens his body,' Lebene says. Or as Joshua sees it, 'I like tennis because it's fun, I get to play with my friends and it gives me energy.' Two or three weekends a month, his parents (mum Annabel works for a charity) drive him around the country to tournaments, although they flew to Scotland. For the past two summer holidays the family — including his older sister, who attends the Brit performing arts school — decamped to Barcelona's elite Emilio Sánchez Academy, where Andy Murray trained from the age of 15. 'He plays with the top kids in Britain a lot, so you're thinking, 'Who's the best player in Europe that he can hit with?' ' Lebene says. 'We don't come from a tennis background and we're learning as we go along. I didn't appreciate the amount of time, money and dedication that would be required.' Being from a 'tennis family' can certainly help. Judy Murray is a former junior player turned coach, as is Jack Draper's mother, Nicky, while his father, Roger, ran the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) from 2006 to 2013. Not to mention that most of the top British players are from middle-class backgrounds. It might be easier to start playing tennis these days, but high-quality coaching and the ability to travel, especially overseas, don't come cheap, and can make the difference to whether your child succeeds. It takes, Probert estimates, 'pretty much another full-time income to be one of the best. It's a never-ending bill for these parents. Realistically, they're spending at least £30,000 a year.' A quick shopping list: one-to-one lessons, three or four times a week, cost between £35 and £100. Group sessions are £10-£20 a go. Physio can be £50-£100. Quality rackets are about £100 and most kids have two. You might need white kit for a tournament one week, black the next. And consider the rapidity with which adolescents grow out of trainers, with different pairs required for grass, clay and hard courts. Then there's travel, hotels, food and tournament entry fees. Little wonder the LTA has estimated it costs £250,000 to develop a player from 5 until 18. Ironically, the more you spend, the more affordable it can become, as brands begin to notice budding talent. Joshua gets rackets and kit from Wilson. Sisters Lainee, 12, and Nolwaine Ngassam, 9, are sponsored by Head. The sisters are coached in Ashtead, Surrey, by their dad, Cedric. An enthusiastic amateur, he works in finance and introduced his eldest daughter to his favourite sport aged three. 'As soon as I could walk, I wanted to follow Daddy,' Lainee says. 'Then I wanted to follow as well,' Nolwaine adds. Comparisons to the Williams sisters are perhaps inevitable. Venus first picked up a racket aged four, with Serena keen to copy her sibling. Their gruelling 6am sessions — with their coach-dad, Richard — became as legendary as their rivalry. Nolwaine is often practising by 7am. She trains five times a week for up to two hours at a time — dedication that's made her under-nine girls' champion for Surrey and ranked in the Top 2 for her age. Having been spotted by scouts, Lainee has spent the past two years on the LTA Pathway, which helps to subsidise promising players. It means that she trains six times a week, usually after finishing her homework, plus strength and conditioning sessions — a must since she's recently shot up by several inches. Before joining the pathway, Lainee took a couple of months away from tennis to think about whether she wanted to commit. 'I missed it,' she says. 'It was good to have holidays and stop for a bit, but I was happy when I started again.' 'And now she doesn't want to stop any more,' her mum, Lembe, says. Theirs is a carefully constructed family schedule, planned four months in advance, so the girls, who often want to play in tournaments at opposite ends of the country, can do as much as possible. 'It's like a miniature professional timetable, which is the right thing to do because Lainee is already 12,' Lembe says. 'If you look at British players like Hannah [Klugman, 16] and Mika [Stojsavljevic, last year's US Open junior champion at 15], how old are they? She's not too far from them.' (Klugman and Stojsavljevic have been given wild cards to play in the main draw at Wimbledon this year.) They don't have plans to train abroad, as Lembe explains. 'Tennis is still a bit elitist. You can have talent, but if you're not supported financially, it's really difficult. Having their dad as their coach helps.' Being mini pros also means having a nutrition plan. 'We don't go crazy because they're still children,' Lembe says. 'But I remember going to a county cup and this dad walked in with chocolate doughnuts. Nolwaine was asking, 'I can't eat that?' And I said, 'If you want to perform well, you can't. Sorry.' ' The sisters are, Lainee says, 'very competitive, but only when we play each other'. 'Family can be supportive but sometimes I get stressed,' Nolwaine says. 'I put pressure on myself to win when they watch me.' 'I always tell my girls, I am not raising tennis players,' Lembe says. 'If we set the goal of them becoming professional we put added pressure on them, whereas if they're enjoying it, they will progress in the right direction.' • Why pampered top ten are wrong to demand more money from grand slams Except, here's the harsh truth: you have to be prepared to lose week in, week out. Winning is rare in a sport where only one person lifts the trophy. For every player who makes it, hundreds won't. And only a handful of the elite get anywhere near grand slam prize money — £2.7 million for last year's Wimbledon singles winners. 'To make a living, you need to be in the world's Top 100,' Probert says. 'There are a lot of players in the Top 250 who are struggling. When you're younger, the financial pressure is your parents'. But when you're paying your own bills and the only way to relieve the burden is to win, that's a lot of pressure.' Tennis First has handed out grants of up to £10,000 to about 350 juniors, but just 20 have made it into the Top 250. 'It isn't a huge number,' Probert concedes. 'But British tennis is in a strong position now, with great role models. More players are coming through.' One of those is Liv Zingg from Barnes in southwest London — although she's speaking to me from Nairobi, where she's just triumphed in an International Tennis Federation tournament. The 14-year-old, who started playing with friends, aged 5, in a Notting Hill park, has recently taken a big step on the path to going pro: leaving home. She and her mother, Nicole, a former figure skater and until recently Liv's fitness coach, first moved to Mallorca, where Liv had a scholarship at the Rafa Nadal Academy. Now they're at the Francesca Schiavone training facility in northern Italy, which her family is paying for with the help of Tennis First (academies can cost £40,000-£60,000 a year). Liv's days are carefully structured. 'I do three hours of tennis and three hours of fitness. On Wednesdays, a physio comes. And we always break from 12-2pm — the Italians like their lunch.' She is 'happy', but there are sacrifices that come with not living a regular teenage life — leaving friends behind, being home schooled, only seeing her dad and sister during holidays or if she has a tournament in the UK. 'I started doing trips at 12 and I had trouble with staying away from home. I was crying. I was kind of bullied at one stage too. But I've got used to it,' she says. In September she's going to join the acclaimed National Tennis Academy in Loughborough, with a fully funded package including schooling, meals, accommodation, travel and coaching. It will mean living by herself for the first time and sharing dorms with her peers (ie the competition). 'I'll be able to go home every weekend and it's only two hours away, so I think I'll be OK,' she says. Her commitment is, at least, paying off. Liv is ranked third in Europe for her age, plays for Britain and has been invited to take part in the prestigious under-14s tournament at Wimbledon during the championships. Oh, and she signed with talent agency IMG at the age of 12; that's 6 years earlier than Jack Draper. On Instagram she's known as 'Super Liv' and has 4,000 followers. One recent post read, 'You accept it. Cry it out if you need to, then force a smile. You move on. Be relentless. Adapt and grow. Work harder. Work smarter.' Although, Liv says, 'I've never posted anything myself; that's all my mum.' Her dream? 'To become world No 1 and hold the record for winning the most grand slams. That would be cool.' 'That ambition,' Probert says, 'combined with hard work, is what it takes to become the next Jack or Emma.' Which is why I don't bat an eyelid when Nolwaine says, softly but surely, 'I'd like to win Wimbledon.' Or when her sister turns to me and smiles. 'Me too.'
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
From hunky Jack Draper to Emma Raducanu – the who-to-watch guide for Brit Wimbledon hotshots hoping to win big at SW19
We serve up a selection of them before the action starts at SW19 on Monday LOVE ALL OF THEM From hunky Jack Draper to Emma Raducanu – the who-to-watch guide for Brit Wimbledon hotshots hoping to win big at SW19 TENNIS fans will hope Jack is nimble – and quick – as our latest Wimbledon hope takes to the court. World No4 Jack Draper, 23, whose looks have won him a Burberry modelling deal, has a serious shot at the title. 17 Emma Raducanu hopes to go deep into the tournament after a recent return to form Credit: Getty On the ladies' side, former US Open champ Emma Raducanu, 22, hopes to go deep after a recent return to form. There are 23 Brits in the singles – 13 men and ten women – which is the most since 1984. Mike Ridley serves up a selection of them before the action starts at SW19 on Monday. Hannah Klugman, 16 - GB No17, world No577 STAR-in-the-making Hannah will feel right at home – as her family live in Wimbledon village in South West London, not far from the All England club. The youngest of four sisters, she excelled at all sports and only plumped for tennis after the Covid pandemic. 17 Hannah Klugman was the first Briton to make the final in Paris since Michele Tyler in 1976 Credit: Alamy At 14, Hannah gave up going to school and did her GCSE studies online. Earlier this month, that decision already looked to have been a good one as she became a junior Grand Slam runner-up at the French Open. She was the first Briton to make the final in Paris since Michele Tyler in 1976 and experts are now marking her out for big things – and she already has experience of a grand stage. Sun tennis writer Rob Maul says: 'There are three British female teens in the draw [also Mika Stojsavljevic, 16, and Mimi Xu, 17]. She is already impressive, and she is part of the future for Wimbledon.' British world No719 qualifies for Wimbledon but is BANNED from claiming £66,000 prize money Katie Boulter, 28 - GB No2, world No41 LEICESTER CITY fan Katie Boulter has never got as far as the second week of a grand slam tournament – despite being Britain's No2. On her day, statuesque Katie can upset the form book but experts reckon she is perhaps a little too inconsistent to be among the game's elite. 17 Katie Boulter has never got as far as the second week of a grand slam tournament – despite being Britain's No2 Credit: News Group Newspaper Ltd 17 Katie is engaged to Aussie world No11 Alex de Minaur after dating him for about three years Credit: Instagram She is engaged to Aussie world No11 Alex de Minaur after dating him for about three years. The couple have date nights during tournaments, which they post about on social media. Alex, 26, was born in Sydney then trained for years in Spain. But while Alex was unsure whether to play for Spain or Australia at the Olympics, before choosing the former, Katie was famously pictured in 2018 cheering on England's World Cup footballers. Katie, who has suffered many injuries over the years, including a stress fracture of the back, is very close to her grandparents who live in the East Midlands where she grew up. She also appreciates going out with a man who understands the pressures of the game. Emma Raducanu, 22 - GB No1, world No38 ONE of the most scrutinized female athletes in world sport and one of the most famous. As Britain's No1, the whole country will be rooting for her during the championships. 17 Carlos Alcaraz has been romantically linked to Emma Credit: PA And amid rumour of a romance with Spanish world No2 Carlos Alcaraz – who at 22 has won five grand slams including two Wimbledons – he will surely be keeping an eye on her matches. Will former US Open winner Emma rediscover that old magic, on the back of promising recent results? Or will she be affected by news that the stalker who reduced her to tears in Dubai in February tried to get tickets for this year's Wimbledon, only to be red-flagged and denied. She will be grateful organisers had beefed up security but all eyes will be on her game. If she can overcome those worries and avoid injury, Emma could go a long way. Whatever happens, there will be plenty of drama. Jodie Burrage, 26 - GB No7, world No164 SHE missed Wimbledon last year through injury, so hopes her luck will change. But judging by a bizarre event that happened at the pre-Wimbledon tournament in Eastbourne this week, she might wonder. 17 Jodie Burrage missed Wimbledon last year through injury, so hopes her luck will change Credit: Getty 17 Jodie is dating Scots rugby international Ben White, who plays scrum half for French club Toulon Credit: Instagram BBC commentator Annabel Croft could not believe her eyes when Jodie's opponent in the last 16, reigning Wimbledon ladies champ Barbora Krejcikova, fired a shot through a hole in the net. Krejcikova generously conceded the point but the Czech ace went on to win the match. Surrey smasher Jodie is dating Scots rugby international Ben White, who plays scrum half for French club Toulon. At last month's French Open, Jodie said uncertainty over whether Ben, 27, would be picked for the British Lions squad to tour Australia this summer was affecting her form on the court. In the end, Ben was not selected – so expect to see him at Wimbledon cheering on Jodie. Jack Draper, 23 - GB No1, world No4 ONE of the most eligible men in tennis, young free and single Jack is a Burberry model with an equally fine-looking tennis game. Now at a career-high world No4, he is hotly tipped to win Wimbledon, if not this year then soon. 17 Jack draper is a Burberry model with an equally fine-looking tennis game Credit: Getty 17 Jack with model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in an ad for Burberry swimwear Credit: Burberry He would be the first English champ since Fred Perry in 1936 – and looks the heir apparent to Scots sensation Sir Andy Murray, who twice claimed the spoils at SW19 before retiring. After winning the Indian Wells tournament in California earlier this year, and making the semi-finals of the US Open in 2024, big-serving leftie Jack is the real deal at just 23. The Man United fan, who grew up in Ashtead, Surrey, and started out at Sutton Tennis and Squash Club, also stands out for his chiselled looks. He set hearts fluttering when pictured recently jumping topless from a boat with model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in an ad for Burberry swimwear. But he has no love match at the moment and is just pals with Rosie, and her Hollywood star other half Jason Statham. He says: 'I'm always on the road, always playing, always training. It's tough to sustain any relationship.' Having banked nearly £6million in prize money, and plenty more from endorsements and modelling work, he is dream boyfriend material for whoever should get so lucky. But for now, his No1 fan at Wimbledon will be mum Nicky, a former junior tennis starlet. His dad Roger, meanwhile, is an ex-boss of the Lawn Tennis Association, the sport's UK governing body, so was tasked with finding the country's next Wimbledon champ. Sun tennis correspondent Rob Maul says: 'Remarkably, he didn't have to look far!' Henry Searle, 19 - GB No119, world No409 THE teen wildcard from Wolverhampton may have a lowly world ranking – but he already has some serious form on the lawns of Wimbledon. It is only two years ago that 6ft 4in Henry became the first Brit to win the boys title, since football legend Stanley Matthews' son. 17 Henry Searle may have a lowly world ranking – but he already has some serious form on the lawns of Wimbledon Credit: Rex Since Stanley Matthews Jnr picked up the trophy in 1962, it has been won by a host of kids who went on to become tennis greats including Bjorn Borg and Ivan Lendl. The left-hander is the son of cricketer Harvey Trump, an off-spin bowler who played for Somerset between 1988 and 1997, and his first wife Emma. Henry has a huge following of fans and friends who join him at matches, wear identical T-shirts and making a lot of noise supporting his every shot. Sun man courtside Rob Maul says: 'Henry is quite a shy lad who doesn't say a lot but he has what it takes to be a real star of the future.' Jacob Fearnley, 23 - GB No2, world No51 HOTSHOT Jacob is drawing comparisons with a famous fellow Scot, two-time Wimbledon champ Sir Andy Murray, and recent results show the new pretender may just fit the bill. He has had a meteoric rise to No51 in the world rankings, from a lowly 664 at the start of the year, and it seems the only way is up. 17 Jacob Fearnley is drawing comparisons with a famous fellow Scot, two-time Wimbledon champ Sir Andy Murray Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 17 Jacob with stunning US girlfriend, beach volleyball star Keagan Polk Credit: / Instagram The powerfully built big-hitter was born and brought up in Edinburgh where mum Sam, who worked for the NHS, taught him to play tennis from the age of three. But Jacob looks like an American – wears his baseball cap backward and speaks with slight Texan drawl. That's because he came through the US college ranks rather than a tennis academy. He spent five years at the Texas Christian University where fellow Brit Cameron Norrie also built his game, and it is where he met his stunning US girlfriend, beach volleyball star Keagan Polk. At the Australian Open earlier this year, she cheered him on to a win against Aussie bad boy Nick Kyrgios in the first round. She was also in Jacob's box at Wimbledon last year when he took a set off the greatest player of all time, Serb superstar Novak Djokovic. But he has his work cut out in his first match at Wimbledon – up against much-hyped Brazilian teen Joao Fonseca. Dan Evans, 35 - GB No5, world No170 LIKE seven-time Wimbledon champ Novak Djokovic, who comes into this year's tournament aged 38 and world-ranked six, our Dan is in the twilight of his career. Aged 35, he may not have too many more SW19 appearances in him, so catch him now. 17 Dan Evans comes into this year's tournament aged 38 and world-ranked six Credit: Getty 17 Dan will be cheered at Wimbledon by wife Aleah Credit: Alamy The former Brit No1 has slipped to world No170 from a high of 21 just two years ago and only got into this year's draw with a wildcard – but a recent run of form suggests a thrilling last hurrah could just be possible. One of the most working-class players on the circuit, Brummie electrician's son Dan spent a year off the tour after testing positive for cocaine in 2017 but stormed back with a vengeance and is a reformed man. He did Team GB proud last year at the Paris Olympics as he made the doubles quarter-finals with Sir Andy Murray – in the former world No1's emotional farewell to the game. Dan is now is giving his all to his time left on court and delighting fans with his mischievous game of crafty spins. Based in Dubai nowadays, he will be cheered at Wimbledon by wife Aleah as he starts against fellow Brit Jay Clarke, 26, who is GB No7 and world No199. Dan and Aleah plan to have kids once he hangs up his racquet – and he has banked more than £6million in prize money alone so will have plenty of cash for family holidays. The single-handicap golfer will also have time for honing his swing, and following his beloved Aston Villa. OTHER HOME ACES TO SEE FROM talented teens to a most unlikely 11th-hour men's qualifier, here are some other British players to watch . . . 17 Welsh wildcard Mingge 'Mimi' Xu is only 17 and already British No10 Credit: Reuters TIPPED for big things, Welsh wildcard Mingge 'Mimi' Xu is only 17 and already British No10. Born to Chinese parents who met at Swansea University, she is world No318 and has a big ask in round one . . . against Emma Raducanu. 17 Oliver Tarvet battled through qualifying this week into the main draw Credit: Getty HE is the world's 719th best player and No33 in Britain – but Oliver Tarvet, from St Albans, battled through qualifying this week into the main draw. If he wins his first match, against a fellow qualifier, Oliver, 21, could face reigning champ Carlos Alcaraz. 17 Mika Stojsavljevic, 16, is a big server with a style like her childhood idol Maria Sharapova Credit: Getty WILDCARD Mika Stojsavljevic, 16, is a big server with a style like her childhood idol Maria Sharapova. Born in West London to a Serb dad and Polish mum, the 6ft belter made headlines in junior circles by winning last year's US Open girls' title.
The Irish Sun
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- Sport
- The Irish Sun
From hunky Jack Draper to Emma Raducanu – the who-to-watch guide for Brit Wimbledon hotshots hoping to win big at SW19
TENNIS fans will hope Jack is nimble – and quick – as our latest Wimbledon hope takes to the court. World No4 17 Emma Raducanu hopes to go deep into the tournament after a recent return to form Credit: Getty On the ladies' side, former US Open champ There are 23 Brits in the singles – 13 men and ten women – which is the most since 1984. Mike Ridley serves up a selection of them before the action starts at SW19 on Monday. Hannah Klugman, 16 - GB No17, world No577 STAR-in-the-making Read More on Sport The youngest of four sisters, she excelled at all sports and only plumped for tennis after the Covid pandemic. 17 Hannah Klugman was the first Briton to make the final in Paris since Michele Tyler in 1976 Credit: Alamy At 14, Earlier this month, that decision already looked to have been a good one as she became a junior Grand Slam runner-up at the French Open. She was the first Briton to make the final in Paris since Michele Tyler in 1976 and experts are now marking her out for big things – and she already has experience of a grand stage. Most read in Sport Sun tennis writer Rob Maul says: 'There are three British female teens in the draw [also Mika Stojsavljevic, 16, and Mimi Xu, 17]. She is already impressive, and she is part of the future for Wimbledon.' British world No719 qualifies for Wimbledon but is BANNED from claiming £66,000 prize money Katie Boulter, 28 - GB No2, world No41 LEICESTER CITY fan On her day, statuesque Katie can upset the form book but experts reckon she is perhaps a little too inconsistent to be among the game's elite. 17 Katie Boulter has never got as far as the second week of a grand slam tournament – despite being Britain's No2 Credit: News Group Newspaper Ltd 17 Katie is engaged to Aussie world No11 Alex de Minaur after dating him for about three years Credit: Instagram She is engaged to Aussie world No11 The couple have date nights during tournaments, which they post about on social media. Alex, 26, was born in Sydney then trained for years in Spain. But while Alex was unsure whether to play for Spain or Australia at the Olympics, before choosing the former, Katie was famously pictured in 2018 cheering on Katie, who has suffered many injuries over the years, including a stress fracture of the back, is very close to her grandparents who live in the East Midlands where she grew up. She also appreciates going out with a man who understands the pressures of the game. Emma Raducanu, 22 - GB No1, world No38 ONE of the most scrutinized female athletes in world sport and one of the most famous. As 17 Carlos Alcaraz has been romantically linked to Emma Credit: PA And amid Will former US Open winner Emma rediscover that old magic, on the back of promising recent results? Or will she be affected by news that the stalker who reduced her to tears in Dubai in February tried to get tickets for this year's Wimbledon, only to be red-flagged and denied. She will be grateful organisers had beefed up security but all eyes will be on her game. If she can overcome those worries and avoid injury, Emma could go a long way. Whatever happens, there will be plenty of drama. Jodie Burrage, 26 - GB No7, world No164 SHE missed Wimbledon last year through injury, so hopes her luck will change. But judging by a bizarre event that happened at the pre-Wimbledon tournament in Eastbourne this week, she might wonder. 17 Jodie Burrage missed Wimbledon last year through injury, so hopes her luck will change Credit: Getty 17 Jodie is dating Scots rugby international Ben White, who plays scrum half for French club Toulon Credit: Instagram BBC commentator Krejcikova generously conceded the point but the Czech ace went on to win the match. Surrey smasher Jodie is dating Scots rugby international At last month's French Open, Jodie said uncertainty over whether Ben, 27, would be picked for the British Lions squad to tour Australia this summer was affecting her form on the court. In the end, Ben was not selected – so expect to see him at Wimbledon cheering on Jodie. Jack Draper, 23 - GB No1, world No4 ONE of the most eligible men in tennis, young free and single Now at a career-high world No4, he is hotly tipped to win Wimbledon, if not this year then soon. 17 Jack draper is a Burberry model with an equally fine-looking tennis game Credit: Getty 17 Jack with model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in an ad for Burberry swimwear Credit: Burberry He would be the first English champ since Fred Perry in 1936 – and looks the heir apparent to Scots sensation Sir Andy Murray, who twice claimed the spoils at SW19 before retiring. After winning the The He set hearts fluttering when pictured recently jumping topless from a boat with model But he has no love match at the moment and is just pals with Rosie, and her Hollywood star other half Jason Statham. He says: 'I'm always on the road, always playing, always training. It's tough to sustain any relationship.' Having banked nearly £6million in prize money, and plenty more from endorsements and modelling work, he is dream boyfriend material for whoever should get so lucky. But for now, his No1 fan at Wimbledon will be mum Nicky, a former junior tennis starlet. His dad Roger, meanwhile, is an ex-boss of the Lawn Tennis Association, the sport's UK governing body, so was tasked with finding the country's next Wimbledon champ. Sun tennis correspondent Rob Maul says: 'Remarkably, he didn't have to look far!' Henry Searle, 19 - GB No119, world No409 THE teen wildcard from Wolverhampton may have a lowly world ranking – but he already has some serious form on the lawns of Wimbledon. It is only two years ago that 6ft 4in Henry became the first Brit to win the boys title, since football legend Stanley Matthews' son. 17 Henry Searle may have a lowly world ranking – but he already has some serious form on the lawns of Wimbledon Credit: Rex Since The left-hander is the son of cricketer Harvey Trump, an off-spin bowler who played for Somerset between 1988 and 1997, and his first wife Emma. Henry has a huge following of fans and friends who join him at matches, wear identical T-shirts and making a lot of noise supporting his every shot. Sun man courtside Rob Maul says: 'Henry is quite a shy lad who doesn't say a lot but he has what it takes to be a real star of the future.' Jacob Fearnley, 23 - GB No2, world No51 HOTSHOT He has had a meteoric rise to No51 in the world rankings, from a lowly 664 at the start of the year, and it seems the only way is up. 17 Jacob Fearnley is drawing comparisons with a famous fellow Scot, two-time Wimbledon champ Sir Andy Murray Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 17 Jacob with stunning US girlfriend, beach volleyball star Keagan Polk Credit: / Instagram The powerfully built big-hitter was born and brought up in Edinburgh where mum Sam, who worked for the NHS, taught him to play tennis from the age of three. But Jacob looks like an American – wears his baseball cap backward and speaks with slight Texan drawl. That's because he came through the US college ranks rather than a tennis academy. He spent five years at the Texas Christian University where fellow Brit At the Australian Open earlier this year, she cheered him on to a win against Aussie bad boy She was also in Jacob's box at Wimbledon last year when he took a set off the greatest player of all time, Serb superstar But he has his work cut out in his first match at Wimbledon – up against much-hyped Brazilian teen Dan Evans, 35 - GB No5, world No170 LIKE seven-time Wimbledon champ Novak Djokovic, who comes into this year's tournament aged 38 and world-ranked six, our Aged 35, he may not have too many more SW19 appearances in him, so catch him now. 17 Dan Evans comes into this year's tournament aged 38 and world-ranked six Credit: Getty 17 Dan will be cheered at Wimbledon by wife Aleah Credit: Alamy The former Brit No1 has slipped to world No170 from a high of 21 just two years ago and only got into this year's draw with a wildcard – but a recent run of form suggests a thrilling last hurrah could just be possible. One of the most working-class players on the circuit, Brummie electrician's son Dan spent a year off the tour after testing positive for cocaine in 2017 but stormed back with a vengeance and is a reformed man. He did Team GB proud last year at the Paris Olympics as he made the doubles quarter-finals with Sir Andy Murray – in the former world No1's emotional farewell to the game. Dan is now is giving his all to his time left on court and delighting fans with his mischievous game of crafty spins. Based in Dubai nowadays, he will be cheered at Wimbledon by wife Aleah as he starts against fellow Brit Dan and Aleah plan to have kids once he hangs up his racquet – and he has banked more than £6million in prize money alone so will have plenty of cash for family holidays. The single-handicap golfer will also have time for honing his swing, and following his beloved OTHER HOME ACES TO SEE FROM talented teens to a most unlikely 11th-hour men's qualifier, here are some other British players to watch . . . 17 Welsh wildcard Mingge 'Mimi' Xu is only 17 and already British No10 Credit: Reuters TIPPED for big things, Welsh wildcard Mingge 'Mimi' Xu is only 17 and already British No10. Born to Chinese parents who met at Swansea University, she is world No318 and has a big ask in round one . . . against Emma Raducanu. 17 Oliver Tarvet battled through qualifying this week into the main draw Credit: Getty HE is the world's 719th best player and No33 in Britain – but If he wins his first match, against a fellow qualifier, Oliver, 21, could face reigning champ Carlos Alcaraz. 17 Mika Stojsavljevic, 16, is a big server with a style like her childhood idol Maria Sharapova Credit: Getty WILDCARD Born in West London to a Serb dad and Polish mum, the 6ft belter made headlines in junior circles by winning last year's US Open girls' title.
