Xu ‘loved’ Wimbledon debut despite loss to Raducanu

Xu, 17, who had earned a wildcard for the Championships, defeated Raducanu 6-3, 6-3, to seal the match.

Xu hopes the experience will motivate her to play in SW19 as the first Welsh player to do so in 20 years.

Xu told BBC Sport Wales, “I loved every second of it.”

“I wouldn’t claim that it was my dream debut because it was undoubtedly my dream debut,” he said.

However, I feel truly honoured and happy that this was my debut.

I don’t believe I could have asked for more than that to play against a fellow Brit who is a Grand Slam champion on a big court.

The atmosphere, the court, and the crowd are all there. It wasn’t for me to stop.

Earlier this month, Swansea-born Xu had won notable titles at the Birmingham, Ilkley, and Nottingham Open.

She defended her 2021 US Open champion, saying, “I’ve come so far even from last year.

“It’s obvious that my game is different from Emma’s, but I genuinely believe I can succeed there.”

“I was telling people that this was my best grass season ever, even before Wimbledon.”

Everything else was a bonus because the last three years I’ve played on the women’s side included only one victory and one defeat in my first competition.

My good stuff is really good, in my opinion. She continued, “It’s just fine tuning and cleaning a few bits here and there.”

“But I sincerely believe that I am so capable that this is what has ignited my inner fire.”