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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.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The 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 Jack Draper, 23, whose looks have won him a Burberry modelling deal, has a serious shot at the title. 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 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 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 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 17 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 17 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 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 17 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 17 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 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 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. 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 Independent
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Rising star Mimi Xu relishing clash with ‘really good role model' Emma Raducanu
Four years after she burst into public consciousness as a teenage hopeful at Wimbledon, the grass-court shoe will be on the other foot on Monday for Emma Raducanu. One of the standout draws of the first round from a home perspective saw the former US Open champion paired with 17-year-old Mimi Xu, who is among a trio of talented teenage British girls aiming to make a name for themselves. Xu, along with 16-year-old duo Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic, has been rewarded for an impressive junior career and strong early strides in the women's game with a coveted wild card. The Welsh player, ranked 318, was left scrambling to try to find out who she had drawn, saying: 'It's quite funny because we're moving into the Airbnb this morning at five past 10 and I get a message from my coach, and he was like: 'What an exciting draw!' 'And then my mum's getting messages saying, 'That's so good, so exciting this and that', and not saying the name. And I haven't seen the draw. I'm like: 'Oh my gosh, what is the draw? Who am I playing?' 'And no one was replying afterwards, so I went on to the Wimbledon website and it wasn't there, and eventually someone told me I'm playing Emma. 'I feel like I'm really ready for it. I'm really excited for it. Obviously she's done so well in her career and I'm at the beginning of mine. So I think it's going to be a really good test for me, really good opportunity for me to just go out and play and have fun. I think she's a really good role model to have.' Xu came through the Lawn Tennis Association's national academy at Loughborough and remembers watching Raducanu win the US Open in 2021 with the other players who boarded there. The pair are friendly, sometimes talking together in Mandarin, with Xu's parents both of Chinese heritage along with Raducanu's mother. They got to know each other better when Xu was a hitting partner for the British team at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga last November, and the teenager is quietly confident of causing an upset having already beaten two top-100 players on grass this summer. 'I've been playing really well,' she said. 'I was probably the first one on the grass this year. So I think my game really suits grass. I'm really confident in my game at the moment. 'I'm going to go out there, enjoy every moment, give it a good go. And I believe I've got a good chance if I do all that.' Raducanu came into the tournament after a difficult couple of matches at Eastbourne amid 'some really bad' personal news, while she continues to battle a niggling back problem. There were no signs of discomfort when the 22-year-old trained at the All England Club on Friday, although she was well beaten in a practice set on Court One by former champion Elena Rybakina. Raducanu did look a lot more smiley later when she was spotted walking around the grounds with US Open mixed doubles partner Carlos Alcaraz. Her clash with Xu could be scheduled for one of the main courts, which would not phase the teenager. 'I said to my coach: 'When am I going to get to play on Centre Court again or Court One',' said Xu. 'I'm really ready to embrace it and really just go out and enjoy it. At the US Open last year I got to play on Louis Armstrong, which I think was an amazing experience as well. So I've had that kind of big court, big stadium experience. And if I do get to play on that court, I'm really excited.'
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The British teenage trio creating Wimbledon history
Hannah Klugman, Mika Stojsavljevic and Mimi Xu will make their senior Grand Slam debuts at Wimbledon [BBC Sport] Wimbledon 2025 Dates: 30 June-13 July Venue: All England Club Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full coverage details. Advertisement For the first time in Wimbledon history, there will be three British players aged 17 and under in the women's singles draw. Mika Stojsavljevic, Hannah Klugman and Mimi Xu have been rewarded with main-draw wildcards after demonstrating their potential over the past few years. Stojsavljevic, 16, has made the most notable progress, having won the US Open girls' title last year. Last month, Klugman, also 16, became the first Briton in almost 50 years to reach the French Open girls' final. The 17-year-old Xu is ranked just outside the world's top 300 and has already beaten two top-100 opponents on the grass this year. Advertisement Now, having got their GCSE and A-Level exams out of the way, the trio are focusing on their Wimbledon senior debuts. "We've known for a long time that this is a good three-ball on the girls' side," Iain Bates, the LTA's head of women's tennis, told BBC Sport. "All three are on different paths to the top of the game. But their progress shows they are a pack of players - that is the most positive sign right now. "Winning and going far in junior Grand Slams is a massive achievement, but having your friends and peers pushing you to go to the next stage is even more important." Mika Stojsavljevic – 16 - London In April, Stojsavljevic won the girls' title at the British national junior championships [Getty Images] Born in west London to a Serb father and Polish mother, 6ft-tall Stojsavljevic is a big server and clean ball-striker with a similar style to childhood idol Maria Sharapova. Advertisement She became only the third British girl this century to win a Slam title with her US Open victory, and she is the youngest to achieve that feat since Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in 2006. Since then, the English teenager has won the British national title - beating Klugman in the final - and taken further steps on the professional circuit at Queen's and Nottingham. Stojsavljevic's talent has been nurtured at the LTA's National Academy in Loughborough, where she has trained while studying full-time for her GCSEs. At Nottingham, she was taking practice papers before matches and finished her exams during the tournament. Hannah Klugman – 16 - London Klugman (right) reached her first major juniors singles final at the French Open, losing to Austria's Lilli Tagger [Getty Images] Klugman, who turned 16 in February, has been touted as an exciting prospect for a few years. Advertisement In 2023, the English player won the prestigious Orange Bowl junior championships in Florida, emulating the likes of Coco Gauff, Chris Evert and Caroline Wozniacki. Unlike Stojsavljevic and Xu, Klugman did not join the LTA's academy and instead opted to stay at home in Wimbledon. She works with coach Ben Haran out of Reed's School - which also nurtured Jack Draper and Tim Henman - and practises at the National Tennis Centre. Spending two months preparing on clay - including time at Rafael Nadal's academy - fuelled her run to the Roland Garros final, but her solidity from the baseline and touch at the net works well on the grass. Advertisement Klugman has deferred her GCSEs until November to focus on tennis this summer. Mimi Xu – 17 - Swansea Xu was doing online A-Levels tutorials and sitting exams between matches at the recent Nottingham Open [Getty Images] Xu is the most experienced of the trio at senior level and already ranked 302nd in the world. The Welsh teenager left the national academy last year and now works with Nigel Sears - who coached Emma Raducanu during her Wimbledon fourth-round run in 2021 - and national coach Katie O'Brien. Being invited to November's BJK Cup as a practice partner for the British team also aided her development. Xu earned her career-best win by shocking American top seed Alycia Parks - the world number 52 - on her way to the Birmingham quarter-finals earlier this month. Advertisement Described as "super intelligent" by British captain Anne Keothavong, Xu has taken A-Levels early in the past two summers, sitting biology exams between her matches in Birmingham and Nottingham this year. Are they ready for Grand Slam tennis? Making their senior Grand Slam debuts at Wimbledon is a significant landmark for all three players. They were given spots after a meeting between the LTA and the All England Club to discuss which players merit wildcards. As well as the valuable experience, the trio will earn at least £66,000 in prize money to reinvest in their careers. "If you look at their profiles in isolation, you would say all of them are ready for the opportunity to play," said Bates. Advertisement "As I told them all, I hope - and anticipate - they will have many more Wimbledons. "The first one is about showing their level and competing against some of the best in the world. "I think this is the right opportunity and the right time for them." Both Stojsavljevic and Xu won open-age titles on the ITF Tour last year, but the top-level experience of all three has been limited by the WTA Tour's age eligibility rules. Laura Robson (Wimbledon in 2008) and Heather Watson (US Open in 2009) are the only other British juniors to have won Grand Slam girls' titles this century [Getty Images] Before they turn 16, teenage players are restricted to the number of tournaments they can sign up for and at what level. Once a player becomes 16, the rules allow them to compete in up to 12 tournaments across all levels. That increases again when they turn 17. Advertisement "Success in junior tennis is clearly a strong indicator of long-term potential, but it is no guarantee," added Bates. "The challenge for this group of three really is working through each stage of the professional tour, getting the help and support where they can to get opportunities to play up. "This year's Wimbledon is part of that process."
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
The British teenage trio creating Wimbledon history
Wimbledon 2025Dates: 30 June-13 July Venue: All England ClubCoverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full coverage details. For the first time in Wimbledon history, there will be three British players aged 17 and under in the women's singles Stojsavljevic, Hannah Klugman and Mimi Xu have been rewarded with main-draw wildcards after demonstrating their potential over the past few 16, has made the most notable progress, having won the US Open girls' title last month, Klugman, also 16, became the first Briton in almost 50 years to reach the French Open girls' 17-year-old Xu is ranked just outside the world's top 300 and has already beaten two top-100 opponents on the grass this having got their GCSE and A-Level exams out of the way, the trio are focusing on their Wimbledon senior debuts."We've known for a long time that this is a good three-ball on the girls' side," Iain Bates, the LTA's head of women's tennis, told BBC Sport."All three are on different paths to the top of the game. But their progress shows they are a pack of players - that is the most positive sign right now. "Winning and going far in junior Grand Slams is a massive achievement, but having your friends and peers pushing you to go to the next stage is even more important." Mika Stojsavljevic – 16 - London Born in west London to a Serb father and Polish mother, 6ft-tall Stojsavljevic is a big server and clean ball-striker with a similar style to childhood idol Maria became only the third British girl this century to win a Slam title with her US Open victory, and she is the youngest to achieve that feat since Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in then, the English teenager has won the British national title - beating Klugman in the final - and taken further steps on the professional circuit at Queen's and talent has been nurtured at the LTA's National Academy in Loughborough, where she has trained while studying full-time for her Nottingham, she was taking practice papers before matches and finished her exams during the tournament. Hannah Klugman – 16 - London Klugman, who turned 16 in February, has been touted as an exciting prospect for a few 2023, the English player won the prestigious Orange Bowl junior championships in Florida, emulating the likes of Coco Gauff, Chris Evert and Caroline Stojsavljevic and Xu, Klugman did not join the LTA's academy and instead opted to stay at home in works with coach Ben Haran out of Reed's School - which also nurtured Jack Draper and Tim Henman - and practises at the National Tennis two months preparing on clay - including time at Rafael Nadal's academy - fuelled her run to the Roland Garros final, but her solidity from the baseline and touch at the net works well on the has deferred her GCSEs until November to focus on tennis this summer. Mimi Xu – 17 - Swansea Xu is the most experienced of the trio at senior level and already ranked 302nd in the Welsh teenager left the national academy last year and now works with Nigel Sears - who coached Emma Raducanu during her Wimbledon fourth-round run in 2021 - and national coach Katie O' invited to November's BJK Cup as a practice partner for the British team also aided her earned her career-best win by shocking American top seed Alycia Parks - the world number 52 - on her way to the Birmingham quarter-finals earlier this as "super intelligent" by British captain Anne Keothavong, Xu has taken A-Levels early in the past two summers, sitting biology exams between her matches in Birmingham and Nottingham this year. Are they ready for Grand Slam tennis? Making their senior Grand Slam debuts at Wimbledon is a significant landmark for all three were given spots after a meeting between the LTA and the All England Club to discuss which players merit well as the valuable experience, the trio will earn at least £66,000 in prize money to reinvest in their careers."If you look at their profiles in isolation, you would say all of them are ready for the opportunity to play," said Bates."As I told them all, I hope - and anticipate - they will have many more Wimbledons. "The first one is about showing their level and competing against some of the best in the world."I think this is the right opportunity and the right time for them." Both Stojsavljevic and Xu won open-age titles on the ITF Tour last year, but the top-level experience of all three has been limited by the WTA Tour's age eligibility rules. Before they turn 16, teenage players are restricted to the number of tournaments they can sign up for and at what a player becomes 16, the rules allow them to compete in up to 12 tournaments across all levels. That increases again when they turn 17."Success in junior tennis is clearly a strong indicator of long-term potential, but it is no guarantee," added Bates."The challenge for this group of three really is working through each stage of the professional tour, getting the help and support where they can to get opportunities to play up."This year's Wimbledon is part of that process."
