The buzz around the 2025 Wimbledon Championships has intensified after the release of the draw. British hopes will largely rest on a few notable home favourites, including former Grand Slam champion, Emma Raducanu.
Interestingly, the Brit has been drawn to face compatriot Mimi Xu in her opening round at SW19.
Currently ranked No. 302 in the WTA rankings, Xu received a wildcard entry into the grass-court Major. With a few days to go before her clash against Raducanu, the 17-year-old reflected on what went on behind the scenes when the draw was announced.
Emma Raducanu’s Wimbledon Opponent Mimi Xu Reflects on Her Reaction As the Draw Came Out
Speaking to the BBC recently, Xu revealed that she initially didn’t know who she would be facing in her Wimbledon opener. However, after noticing the excitement from her coach and mother as the draw came out, she looked it up herself and discovered it was Raducanu.
“It’s really funny this one actually because I was moving to my Airbnb at like 10:05, I think, and then I get a message from my coach saying, ‘What an amazing draw, so exciting.’ I’m like, ‘But I haven’t seen the draw.’ My mum’s getting a message saying, ‘such an exciting draw, such a good draw for her to really go out there and play.’ And I’m like… ‘Who am I playing?’” she said.
“So I’m just scrolling and trying to find out who I’m actually playing, and I end up seeing I’m playing Emma,” she added.
Xu recalled first meeting Raducanu three years ago and praised her demeanour. She added that she got to know the 2021 US Open champion better during last year’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
“First time I met her was like three years ago. I hit with her on the grass. She was really nice like, really lovely person. And then I actually went as a hitter for the Billie Jean King finals last year in November. So I really got to know her there. I think she’s a lovely person, what she did in the US Open it really inspired a lot of young girls, I think. It’s really nice to have someone like her,” she added.
More: Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu Strengthen Their Bond at Wimbledon by Hitting the Court Together
Raducanu began her grass-court swing on a promising note, finishing as a quarterfinalist at the Queen’s Club Championships.
However, she couldn’t maintain that momentum and faced a disappointing second-round exit at the Eastbourne Open. With that behind her, the Brit now turns her focus to Wimbledon.
Raducanu Was Handed a Positive Update Days Before Her Wimbledon Campaign
Raducanu received a measure of relief ahead of Wimbledon, as a stalker who had been following her across multiple tournaments was barred from purchasing tickets for the grass-court Major.
Raducanu had suffered a severe panic attack during her second-round match against Karolina Muchova in Dubai this February due to the presence of that stalker. The individual had reportedly followed her across multiple tournaments, including in Qatar, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi.
In a recent development, Wimbledon’s security system successfully blocked him from purchasing tickets for this year’s event.
“Wimbledon did, and everyone did an amazing job, and I got a notification. The police contacted me and told me and assured me everything was good, everything was OK,” Raducanu told BBC.
“I feel comfortable. I feel safe.”
Emma Raducanu praised Wimbledon organisers after their security system detected and blocked the man who stalked her, after he attempted to buy tickets for this year’s event. pic.twitter.com/yDR6k34Knm
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 23, 2025
Raducanu would look to improve her 15-12 win-loss record with a deep run at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. She hasn’t lifted a tour trophy since her 2021 US Open triumph and will be hoping to end that drought in front of her home crowd at SW19.
