Xu will be first Welsh player at Wimbledon in 20 years

WALES is to have its first singles main draw player at Wimbledon in two decades.

- By DAVID JAMES

Mingge (Mimi) Xu will be the first Welsh competitor in the Wimbledon Championships singles main draw for 20 years. The teenager from Swansea has been granted a wildcard into the Wimbledon main draw as she climbs the international women’s rankings.

The last player from Wales to compete in the main draw at Wimbledon was Rebecca Llewellyn, who took part in both the singles and doubles at the Championships in 2005.

Other Welsh players who have competed in the main draw at SW1 include Swansea's Mike Davies in the 1960s, Bridgend’s Gerald Battrick who competed on the grass at Wimbledon for 11 years in the 1960s and 70s, reaching the third round in 1971.

Colwyn Bay's Mike Walker competed in 1986 and Sarah Loosemore, of Dinas Powys, featured in the women’s draw four times and made it to the second round in 2000.

Mimi Xu is currently Wales’ highest ranked player despite only being 17 years old.

She has a world ranking of 302 on the WTA tour and began playing tennis aged three at the Swansea tennis and squash club. Her mum Wendy is retired and dad Tony is an engineer.