Hannah Klugman, 16, sealed the biggest win of her fledgling career as she surged into the French Open girls’ singles final at Roland-Garros on Friday.
Klugman became the first British player this century to reach a girls’ final in Paris and first since Sue Barker won the title in 1976 as the Wimbledon resident defeated Rositsa Dencheva 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.
She will take on 17-year-old Austrian Lilli Tagger in the final on Saturday with history on the line.
At the age of 14 Klugman made it through to the US Open girls’ quarter-finals and she spoke to the Sky Sports Tennis team at Flushing Meadows…
Last June, Klugman made headlines by winning two matches at the Wimbledon women’s qualifying in her home major.
She has been working alongside long-standing coach Ben Haran, as well renowned strength and conditioning coach Jez Green and physio Will Herbert.
Klugman appears to be benefitting from her time practising at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca this March where she received words of encouragement from the ‘King of Clay’.
“I had three days there, which was amazing, I’m so grateful they gave me that opportunity at Rafa’s. I love Rafa,” Klugman said.
“He said to me, once you have the level, things will come, so trust the hard work, the process. If you’re not having results right now, you have to keep believing.”
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