Georgia’s tennis talent Mariam Bolkvadze celebrates win at Wimbledon

Rising Georgian tennis player Mariam Bolkvadze is through to the second round of Wimbledon in London, UK after defeating a local favourite earlier today.

Bolkvadze, 18, faced Britain’s Katie Swan, 17, in the first round match of the junior category of the famous competition.

The two players were selected to play each other on day seven of the Grand Slam tournament. Bolkvadze emerged victorious after her opponent retired within an hour of the match.

The young Georgian was leading the first set 6-5 when Swan pulled out with an injury, handing the win to Bolkvadze, who won this year’s International Tennis Federation (ITF) competition in Egypt's Sharm El Sheikh.

Britain’s hopeful was seeded 12th in the junior competition. She competed and lost in the first round of the senior category at Wimbledon last week.

Mariam Bolkvadze photographed in action during the first round match against Katie Swan. Photo from Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe.

By defeating the British teenager, Bolkvadze has progressed to second round of the junior tournament where she will take on India’s Karman Kaur Thandi tomorrow.

The 18 year-old will also take part in the doubles’ section first round, teaming up with Caty McNally of the United States (US) against the pair Siqi Cao from China together with Chiara Lommer of the US.

Wimbledon is widely considered as the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.

One of the four Grand Slam competitions, it features the world’s best players who compete annually on grass surface at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in south-west London.

This year’s Wimbledon tournament runs from June 27-July 10.

The full draw of the girls’ singles category can be viewed on the official Wimbledon website here, while the girls’ doubles section fixtures can be viewed here.