DUO CARRYING A NATION'S HOPES

Raducanu and Draper leading the home challenge for SW19 glory

- By Yasmin Syed

WHEN Emma Raducanu takes to Court 1 tomorrow to begin her Wimbledon campaign, it will feel like deja vu.

Four years after she made her debut here as a wildcard who had only just completed her A Levels, Raducanu is back as the British No.1.

And she faces Mingge 'Mimi' Xu, the teenage Welsh wildcard.

Having been a free-swinging teenager with nothing to lose herself in 2021, Raducanu knows Xu, 17, will be "dangerous".

She said: "I think it's a very dangerous match, very difficult.

"I think Mimi is a really, really good player.

"I practised with her a few times. A lot of weapons. Also moves really well.

"For her, it's one where there's nothing to lose. I remember when I had my first Wimbledon here and I was 18. It's a great feeling. You just feel, like, completely fearless.

"So I think for me it's going to be a challenge, but one that I'm looking forward to."

Raducanu and Xu also have something else in common - Raducanu's mother is Chinese while both her opponent's parents are from China.

And the world No.38 enjoys speaking to them in Mandarin.

She added: "Mimi's mum has always been really nice to me. I speak to her in Chinese. It's good practice for me. I get to try and improve my Mandarin, which is good."

Xu isn't the only British teenager in the main draw.