In fact, only Laura Robson (2009) and Annabel Croft (1982) have carried the hopes of the nation at SW19 as 15-year-olds. Klugman, who turned 16 in February, is the third-youngest of the Open era.
Klugman reached the French Open girls’ final, where she lost to Austria’s Lilli Tagger (Photo: Getty)
Klugman lives just over a mile away from the All England Club, but will still take advantage of tournament transport on Monday morning, rather than walking or cycling, to conserve her energy for a formidable first-round tie against Leylah Fernandez, the woman Emma Raducanu defeated in the 2021 US Open final.
“Hannah has been talked about for a long time,” says Katie O’Brien, a former player and now the LTA’s women’s national coach. “She is really skilful, super talented.”
Read Next
square TENNISRead More
“I’m a bit different,” Klugman says. “I’m not just someone who hits the ball. I like to do different things; slice, variety. I’ve got a big serve, so that’s gonna help on the grass. And I think I’m a good mover.”
So, in fairness, does Klugman. Despite being the youngest player in the draw, she speaks with confidence and poise beyond her years to a room full of journalists desperately resisting the urge to call her “the next Raducanu”, a moniker that would only really be deserved if she upset Fernandez and then won a couple more rounds to boot.
Advice from Jack Draper
‘Don’t be afraid of the doubts and the fear and the anxiety’ (Photo: Getty)Klugman is lucky to have so many willing mentors, perhaps a sign of a tennis community keen to make sure her obvious talent is not wasted. Will Herbert is her fitness coach, the man Raducanu called her “mechanic” during her US Open triumph, and who has worked with a whole host of top players.
square TENNIS Get to know every British player at Wimbledon in four minutes
Read More
Herbert is not the only one with sage advice for one of Britain’s brightest young hopes. Jack Draper, the men’s No 1, took her out for lunch last year during a rough patch, at Haran’s request, and offered his own perspective, a valuable one given he too was talent-spotted by the LTA from a young age.
“Regardless if you look at a top player, or if you look at someone who’s doing incredibly well, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ve got it all figured out and they’re not in a state of struggle themselves, they just know how to deal with it better.
“Because even though you’re feeling like it’s too hard to manage now, it just takes time to understand it, to understand yourself better. And in time, that will come together and it will help you, so it’s a strength, not a weakness.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The Wimbledon wildcard who still hasn’t finished her GCSEs )
Also on site :