Wimbledon 2025 is shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle, especially for British tennis fans who will be watching closely as 23 British players, the highest number since 1984, take to the grass courts at the All England Club from June 30 to July 13. Among the most anticipated matchups is the all-British first-round clash between Emma Raducanu and 17-year-old wildcard Mimi Xu, a contest that promises to be a defining moment for both young stars.
Emma Raducanu, the 22-year-old British No 1 ranked 38th in the world, faces a challenging path in this year’s Wimbledon. Having narrowly missed out on a seeding, Raducanu kicks off her campaign against Mimi Xu, a rising Welsh teenager who has been making waves on the grass court circuit. Xu, ranked world No 318, has impressed with recent victories over higher-ranked players such as world No 52 Alycia Parks at the Birmingham Open, world No 124 Katarzyna Kawa, and world No 97 Katie Volynets at Eastbourne. Her rapid ascent is backed by a solid junior career, including a top ten ITF junior ranking and a W35 Aldershot title in 2024.
The roots of this intriguing first-round encounter go back to the summer of 2022 when Raducanu, fresh off her sensational US Open triumph, practiced with a then 14-year-old Xu at the National Tennis Centre. Former British No 1 and LTA women’s national coach Katie O’Brien recalls, “Emma wanted to play last minute at the NTC on the grass and she bumped into Mimi actually offered to play with her for 45 minutes – that’s something that Mimi is never going to forget.” Now, three years later, the two will meet on one of tennis's biggest stages, potentially on Centre Court.
Should Raducanu overcome Xu, her second-round opponent will be a tough test, either 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova or 32nd seed McCartney Kessler, who recently won the Nottingham Open. Beyond that, the world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka looms large as a potential third-round adversary. Sabalenka, known for her powerful game and resilience, begins her Wimbledon quest against qualifier Carson Branstine. Raducanu’s route is demanding, made even more so as she has been managing a back problem in recent weeks and is working to get her “head in the game” after a second-round exit at the Eastbourne Open. “I feel quite tired,” Raducanu admitted, “Just going through some stuff and I need to do my best to get my head in the game ahead of next week.” She plans to rest and then practice alongside 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, aiming to be in top form when the tournament begins.
The British women’s contingent is strong but faces tough draws across the board. Katie Boulter, who Raducanu recently replaced as the nation’s top-ranked woman, faces ninth seed Paula Badosa in a challenging opener. Sonay Kartal, who has recently cracked the world’s top 50, is up against former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. Wildcard Heather Watson will take on Danish 23rd seed Clara Tauson, while teenage prospects Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic, both 16 and recipients of wildcards, have daunting first-round matches against Canadian 29th seed Leylah Fernandez and American 31st seed Ashlyn Krueger, respectively. This depth of young talent reflects the progress of British tennis, with O’Brien highlighting the collective drive among the junior players, “We’ve got a crop of young talent coming through, it’s not just one and the spotlight isn’t just on that one person.”
On the men’s side, British No 1 Jack Draper faces a similarly formidable challenge. Ranked world No 4, Draper opens against Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, world No 38, and could face 2017 US Open finalist Marin Cilic in the second round. The third round may bring Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, who recently defeated Draper at the French Open and won the Halle title. The quarter-finals might pit Draper against seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic, who is aiming for a record-breaking 25th major singles title. Draper’s half of the draw is stacked with elite players including top seed Jannik Sinner, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, and other top contenders like Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, Lorenzo Musetti, and Alex de Minaur, making his path to the latter stages a true test of grit and skill.
British No 2 Jacob Fearnley, ranked world No 51, has a mouthwatering first-round clash against 18-year-old Brazilian João Fonseca, a rising star who has already claimed a title in Buenos Aires and defeated top players like Andrey Rublev earlier this year. Cameron Norrie, a 2022 Wimbledon semi-finalist, faces Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut. Meanwhile, British qualifier Oliver Tarvet, who cannot claim prize money due to his college player status in the US, could meet defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the second round if he gets past Switzerland’s Leandro Riedi.
The men’s singles draw also features some notable first-round matchups, including Djokovic against France’s Alexandre Muller, Alcaraz facing Fabio Fognini, and Sinner taking on fellow Italian Luca Nardi. The women’s side is equally compelling, with Coco Gauff, the French Open champion, starting against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, playing her final Wimbledon, matched with 10th seed Emma Navarro.
British fans will also witness an all-British men’s singles first-round contest as veteran Dan Evans takes on fellow wildcard Jay Clarke, with the winner likely to face Djokovic in the second round. Other British men’s wildcards such as George Loffhagen, Arthur Fery, and Henry Searle face seeded opponents in their opening matches, highlighting the tough competition ahead.
The draw has been tough for many British players, with only four of the 23 facing lower-ranked opponents in the first round. Yet, the home crowd’s support and the players’ determination could be crucial factors. As BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller notes, “Rankings can be deceptive on the grass, and home support is not to be underestimated.”
As Wimbledon 2025 approaches, the spotlight will be firmly on Britain’s young stars and seasoned pros alike. Emma Raducanu’s potential showdown with Mimi Xu encapsulates the blend of emerging talent and established prowess that defines this year’s tournament. The action is set to captivate, with every match offering a chance for British players to make their mark on tennis’s most prestigious stage.
