Semifinal Showdown Against Pareja

Wales’ teenage sensation Mimi Xu narrowly missed a historic Wimbledon girls’ singles final after a gripping 6-2, 6-7(7), 6-4 defeat against American sixth seed Julieta Pareja. The 17-year-old from Swansea showcased remarkable resilience in a 2-hour 18-minute marathon featuring:

• Dramatic momentum swings with 12 break points converted
• Clutch tiebreak performance saving three match points in second set
• Career-best Grand Slam showing surpassing previous third-round exits

Doubles Dominance and Partnership

Xu’s Wimbledon campaign saw significant doubles success alongside Mika Stojsavljevic:

The British wildcard pairing demonstrated exceptional net play (68% points won) before falling to experienced American opponents.

Breakthrough Tournament Highlights

• Historic singles run: First British girl in 5 years to reach Wimbledon semis
• Signature victory: Defeated French Open champion Lilli Tagger 7-6(4), 6-1
• Senior debut experience: Pushed Emma Raducanu in first-round main draw match

"This fortnight has shown me what’s possible," Xu told BBC Sport. "The energy from Court 1 will fuel my training – I’ll be back stronger."

Technical Analysis

• Improved first serve percentage: 63% in semifinal vs 54% tournament average
• Forehand winners: Increased 22% from earlier rounds
• Net approaches: 41 successful volleys in semifinal

Tennis analysts praise Xu’s court positioning and tactical adaptability, particularly her effective use of slice backhands against power hitters.

Future Prospects

Ranked ITF No. 18 junior, Xu plans to:

1. Compete in US Open Junior Championships
2. Target Top 5 junior ranking by December
3. Begin WTA Tour qualification attempts in 2025

British tennis officials have included Xu in their Elite Player Development Programme, citing her "exceptional competitive maturity."