A YOUNG South Wales sports prodigy who showed off her talent at an early age at Penarth Tennis Club has just enjoyed a memorable Wimbledon.

Mimi Xu went out in the first round of the women's singles, making senior Wimbledon debut as a wildcard against Britain's Emma Raducanu, losing in straight.

The 17-year-old from Swansea went on to make her mark in the tournament though, only losing in the semi-finals of the girls' singles.

Penarth tennis lovers got a showcase of her talent when aged 11 when she crushed the opposition in the Penarth Open at Penarth Lawn Tennis Club at Rectory Road.

The young Xu won the U16 title, the U18s and the overall women's title, along with the doubles.

A Penarth club spokesperson said: "She was amazing and stunned everyone watching. We are delighted that her career is going so well and we wish her all the best for the future.

"We get some great players coming to club tournaments - but she was something special!"

Welsh teenager Mimi Xu has been knocked out of Junior Wimbledon, losing in the semi-finals of the girls' singles.

Xu lost in the junior semi-final to sixth seed Julieta Pareja in a tight three-set battle in what proved to be her final Junior Wimbledon outing. She lost 6-2, 6-7(7), 6-4 to the American.

Xu, who had never made it beyond the third round at Wimbledon, had beaten French Open girls' champion Lilli Tagger of Austria 7-6 (4) 6-1 to reach the last four.

Despite defeat to Raducanu, Xu said she "loved every single moment" of her debut hopes the experience will inspire her to return to SW19.

In the ladies doubles, Xu and fellow British wildcard Ella McDonald defeated defeated Linda Noskova and Rebecca Sramkova 6-4 6-7 6-3.

But the pair were beaten by seeded duo Caroline Dolehide and Sophia Kenin of the United States.