Wimbledon makes tennis history with three British teenagers receiving wildcards for the women's singles draw. Mika Stojsavljevic and Hannah Klugman are both 16 years old. Mimi Xu is 17 years old. Never before has the tournament featured three British players under 18 competing at the same time. The players finished their school exams and can focus completely on tennis.
Stojsavljevic won the US Open girls' championship last year. She stands six feet tall and serves powerfully like her childhood hero Maria Sharapova. The London teenager trains at the National Academy and just completed her studies there. She defeated top opponents at Queen's Club and Nottingham tournaments. Her victory made her only the third British girl this century to win a junior Grand Slam title.
Klugman reached the French Open girls' final last month. She became the first British player to achieve this result at Roland Garros for almost 50 years. The teenager won the Orange Bowl junior championships last year. She trains at Reed's School and chose to stay home rather than join the national academy. Her coach Ben Haran also worked with other successful British players.
Xu holds the highest professional ranking at number 302 worldwide. The Welsh player shocked American seed Alycia Parks at Birmingham earlier this month. She studies advanced biology courses between tennis matches. Former Emma Raducanu coach Nigel Sears helps develop her game. Each player will earn at least £66,000 for competing at Wimbledon.
Stojsavljevic won the US Open girls' championship last year. She stands six feet tall and serves powerfully like her childhood hero Maria Sharapova. The London teenager trains at the National Academy and just completed her studies there. She defeated top opponents at Queen's Club and Nottingham tournaments. Her victory made her only the third British girl this century to win a junior Grand Slam title.
Klugman reached the French Open girls' final last month. She became the first British player to achieve this result at Roland Garros for almost 50 years. The teenager won the Orange Bowl junior championships last year. She trains at Reed's School and chose to stay home rather than join the national academy. Her coach Ben Haran also worked with other successful British players.
Xu holds the highest professional ranking at number 302 worldwide. The Welsh player shocked American seed Alycia Parks at Birmingham earlier this month. She studies advanced biology courses between tennis matches. Former Emma Raducanu coach Nigel Sears helps develop her game. Each player will earn at least £66,000 for competing at Wimbledon.
