The top tennis stars in Wales, Mimi Xu & James Story
- ontargetmedia8
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
As the summer tennis season heats up, learn more about the No.1 players in Wales.
From the courts of Swansea and Cardiff to the global tennis stage, Wales’ top-ranked players Mimi Xu and James Story are making serious moves in the tennis world.
Mimi Xu
At just 17, Mimi Xu is already a standout on the British team scene, she is currently ranked 412 in the world. Born and raised in Swansea, Mimi started playing at Swansea Tennis and Squash Club and Swansea Tennis Centre. Mimi now trains at the National Tennis Centre in London, alongside players like Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper.
Mimi made her junior Wimbledon debut at only 13. Just a year later, after capturing both the U16 and U18 British national titles, she made history as the youngest player in the Open Era to receive an adult Wimbledon qualifying wildcard. Since then, she’s reached quarterfinals and semifinals at the Junior French, Australian, and US Opens.
In 2024, Mimi finished runner-up in girls’ doubles at Wimbledon and climbed to a junior world ranking of No. 8. Now mostly playing on the women's circuit, she’s already bagged a singles title at the W35 Aldershot and picked up four doubles titles, including a standout performance at the W100 Shrewsbury, beating top 100 opposition.
Looking ahead to the summer, Mimi has already competed at the Junior Australian Open and is expected to appear 2 of the other 3 Junior Grand slams this year, Mimi has opted out of the French open this year so she can focus on her A level exams. Welsh tennis fans could soon see her compete on home soil, with a likely spot at the W100 Lexus Wrexham Open in October, potentially becoming the first Welsh player to feature at a major home event in nearly three decades.
James Story
James Story, 24 from Cardiff is Wales’ top-ranked men’s player currently 585 in the world.
As a junior, James won silver at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games and reached the doubles semifinals at Junior Wimbledon in 2018. James took the American college route, studying and playing for the University of South Carolina, where he helped the team crack the U.S. top 2.
Turning pro in 2024, James quickly found his footing winning an M15 title in Tunisia and reaching multiple finals. James has already scored a standout victory over World No. 199 Clement Chidekh. With all this success James earned a spot for Great Britian in the Master’U BNP Paribas tournament, where he helped team GB finish runners-up. So far this year, he’s already won the M25 Glasgow doubles title & reached four finals, a clear sign he is ready for another great year.
Mimi Xu and James Story both hit career high world rankings this multiple times this year and continue to rise.
