By Chalien Dantes

Emma Raducanu started her Wimbledon campaign with a win, dispatching fellow Brit Mimi Xu in straight sets on Court One. 

The British No. 1 delivered a composed 6-3, 6-3 victory over the 17-year-old debutant, Xu, who was competing in her first Grand Slam. Xu showed flashes of promise but struggled to disrupt Raducanu’s rhythm. 

The 2021 US Open champion quickly reasserted control, wrapping up victory in 85 minutes to preserve her perfect first-round record at majors. While Xu flashed potential with bold baseline strikes, Raducanu’s experience proved decisive as she clinically converted her first match point. 

Twenty-two-year-old Raducanu appeared unfazed by the heat as she took a step closer to surpassing her fourth-round finish from last year.

Her next challenge will be a high-stakes showdown with reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.