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I faced Emma Raducanu as a teenager at Wimbledon – but driving test was more stressful

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I faced Emma Raducanu as a teenager at Wimbledon – but driving test was more stressful

British tennis prodigy Mimi Xu insists her driving test was a more stressful experience than her Wimbledon debut against Emma Raducanu.

Xu was one of eight women’s singles wildcards for this year’s tournament, aged just 17.

Xu was drawn against British no.1 Raducanu in the first round at the All England Club on No.1 Court this year.

Raducanu’s experience paid off as she won 6-3 6-3, despite a bizarre occurrence of a champagne cork flying onto the court.

Her opponent offered a strong showing in front of a home crowd, but appears to have found things tougher behind the wheel.

Speaking to the BBC at the Wrexham Open, 18-year-old Xu said her driving test was more stressful than her appearance at Wimbledon.

“Leading up to the moment I passed, I was so tense, there was no way I could have driven back afterwards.

“My mum doesn’t trust me enough yet to drive on the big roads!”

Impressive rise from Xu

Xu began playing tennis in her home town of Swansea at the age of three before joining the National Tennis Academy.

She then moved to the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton and was coached by Raducanu’s former tutor Matthew James.

In 2022, Xu won the U16 British title, as well as the LTA National Tennis Championship Junior Girls title.

Victory in the former earned her a Wimbledon qualifying wildcard, although she was beaten in the first round.

However, she reached the last 16 in both the 2022 and 2023 junior girls’ singles events, and 2024 Australian Open girls’ singles last eight.

Xu has also been successful in doubles as she and Mika Stojsavljevic reached the girls’ doubles final at Wimbledon in 2024.

Fast forward to 2025, and the teenage prospect’s preparations for her first Grand Slam outing were far from usual.

Xu revealed that she sat an A-level biology exam during the Nottingham Open, around two weeks before Wimbledon started.

She wore her tennis kit during the exam, before returning to court once she finished.

Speaking on balancing her studies and tennis, Xu said: “I think I’ve been able to fit it all in quite well.

“I did my maths last year and I have economics to sit next year. I have limited tournaments because of my age, which has helped with fitting everything in.

“If I have tournaments and get behind it’s not the end of the world because I’ve been able to catch up.

“In all fairness I enjoy studying. It might sound a bit weird but I feel like studying is a bit of a hobby of mine. I really enjoy learning new things.

“I think a part of me after these exams is going to be thinking, ‘What shall I do with my free time?’”

Xu has been coached by LTA women’s national coach Katie O’Brien and Nigel Sears, Andy Murray’s father-in-law and ex-Raducanu coach.

She is currently 381 in the world WTA rankings and faces Justina Mikulskyte in the first round of the Wrexham Open.

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Jordan Spieth and His Wife Leave Fans in Awe With Unexpected News About Their Sons Sammy and Sully

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Golf star Jordan Spieth and his wife Annie Verret have once again captured the hearts of fans — but this time, it’s not because of a trophy or a clutch putt. The couple recently shared unexpected and heartwarming news about their two sons, Sammy and Sully, and fans can’t stop gushing over the adorable family update.

In a rare and tender moment off the greens, Spieth and Annie revealed how much joy their boys have brought into their lives — and how quickly they’re growing. According to close sources, the proud parents spoke about the boys’ playful bond and how both already show early signs of competitiveness — a trait Jordan jokingly admits “must run in the family.”

The post that accompanied the announcement melted hearts across social media — featuring Jordan and Annie beaming as their sons laughed and played together under the warm afternoon sun. Fans flooded the comments with love, calling the Spieths “the sweetest golf family ever” and praising the couple for staying grounded and genuine despite global fame.

“Family has always been my greatest win,” Jordan reportedly said, reflecting on how fatherhood has reshaped his priorities. For a man who’s lifted major trophies and faced the pressure of the world stage, it’s touching to see that his proudest moments are now the ones spent at home — watching Sammy and Sully grow, laugh, and dream.

It’s not just a story of golf greatness anymore — it’s a story of love, legacy, and balance. ❤️

Because for Jordan Spieth, the real victory isn’t on the leaderboard — it’s at home. 🏡✨

 

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Fallon Sherrock Shines Bright Beside Her Three Gorgeous Friends — A Celebration of Beauty, Bond, and Unstoppable Energy

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Fallon Sherrock — the dazzling “Queen of the Oche” — has once again captured hearts, this time away from the dartboard. In a series of radiant photos that quickly caught fans’ attention, Sherrock was seen enjoying a beautiful day out with her three gorgeous friends — a celebration of friendship, laughter, and unstoppable energy.

The images showcase pure joy — Fallon glowing in effortless elegance, her smile as bright as ever, surrounded by friends whose chemistry and confidence lit up every frame. Together, they embodied the perfect blend of grace, fun, and fierce femininity, proving that real beauty shines brightest when shared with people who lift you higher.

From casual laughter over coffee to sunset strolls filled with carefree vibes, every shot told a story of women who know how to balance hard work with heartfelt connection. Fans couldn’t stop gushing in the comments, calling them “the ultimate power squad” and praising Fallon for always radiating positivity both on and off the stage.

It’s clear that Fallon Sherrock’s strength doesn’t just come from her game — it’s deeply rooted in the love, loyalty, and laughter she shares with those closest to her. Whether she’s holding a dart or a friend’s hand, Fallon continues to inspire with the same spark that made her a global icon: unshakable confidence and a heart full of light.

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Emma Raducanu’s ex-coach joins another player’s team months after quitting role

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Emma Raducanu linked up with Yutaka Nakamura at the end of last year, but their partnership soon fizzled out.

Emma Raducanu’s former fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura, has officially started working with another player, this time on the men’s circuit. Raducanu announced that Nakamura had joined her team last December, and he was set to travel with her during “most weeks” of the season.

However, Nakamura has been absent from her box for most of the year, reportedly stepping back for personal reasons in the spring. Raducanu has since been working with other physios, including Daniel Pohl and Jerome Poupel. And Nakamura has now seemingly joined Grigor Dimitrov’s team, months after the Bulgarian’s heartbreaking injury retirement at Wimbledon.

Dimitrov led top seed and eventual champion Jannik Sinner by two sets to love in the fourth round of Wimbledon this summer when he suddenly went down in tears, picking up a pectoral injury.

The former world No. 3 received off-court treatment, but he was unable to continue and returned to the court to retire from the match. Dimitrov has since revealed that he spent two hours crying in the locker room, and he later shared a photo from the hospital.

During his injury layoff, Dimitrov’s team had a shake-up, and he parted ways with his coach, Jamie Delgado, who has since joined Jack Draper’s camp. The 34-year-old has now returned to competition at the Paris Masters with some new faces in his box.

One of them is Nakamura, who has a wealth of experience on the WTA Tour, also working with Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka, as well as Raducanu.

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