Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion and British No. 1, made a heartwarming gesture that left a lasting impression on her Wimbledon 2025 first-round opponent, 17-year-old British wildcard Mingge “Mimi” Xu. During their match on June 30, 2025, on Court 1, Raducanu secured a 6-3, 6-3 victory, but it was a moment from three years prior that Xu will “never forget,” as reported by *Express.co.uk*. In 2022, when Xu was a 14-year-old junior with professional aspirations, Raducanu, fresh off her US Open triumph, invited her to hit at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre (NTC) on grass courts. LTA women’s national coach Kate O’Brien recalled, “Emma wanted to play last minute at the NTC and bumped into Mimi and offered to play with her for 45 minutes – that’s something Mimi is never going to forget”.[
This gesture, described as a “class act” by @DExpress_Sport on X, showcased Raducanu’s generosity, giving Xu a rare opportunity to practice with a Grand Slam champion. The moment resonated deeply during their 2025 Wimbledon encounter, where Raducanu admitted feeling “really awkward” facing a younger compatriot she knew from their Billie Jean King Cup practice sessions in November 2024, per *Express.co.uk*. Despite the competitive stakes, Raducanu praised Xu’s “big weapons” and potential, saying, “Congrats to her for the wildcard opportunity. I’m sure she’s going to do great things”.[](https://www.irishstar.com/sport/other-sports/emma-raducanu-wimbledon-celebration-tennis-35478362)
The match itself featured Raducanu’s 24 winners and a lighthearted moment when she picked up a champagne cork that landed on court, easing the tension, per *BBC Sport*. Xu, making her Grand Slam main draw debut, showed promise with six aces but was undone by 22 unforced errors. Raducanu’s earlier kindness, combined with her on-court focus, highlighted her role as both a mentor and competitor, setting the stage for her second-round clash with 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova.[]
