Sixteen-year-old Hannah Klugman has secured the most significant victory of her developing career, advancing to 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. The athlete, who resides in Wimbledon, defeated Rositsa Dencheva with a score of 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.
She is set to compete against 17-year-old Austrian Lilli Tagger in the final on Saturday, with a chance to make history.
“I`m just a bit shocked, to be honest,” said Klugman, who hopes to follow in the footsteps of Britain`s Michelle Tyler, the French Open girls` champion in 1976, the same year Sue Barker won the women`s title.
“I wasn`t playing my best, and I found it tough to get myself into the match.”
“I felt like as soon as I managed that, I was in a good place.”
She added: “I think I`ve been mentally very strong this week. I feel like I`m staying calm in big moments and also just trying to take it all in.”
“These moments don`t happen often, so trying to enjoy them is a big part. My coach and physio are basically saying `go out there and enjoy it,` because you never know if you`ll be in this spot again.”
Last June, Klugman gained attention by winning two matches in the Wimbledon women`s qualifying tournament.
She works with her long-standing coach Ben Haran, as well as renowned strength and conditioning coach Jez Green and physio Will Herbert.
Klugman appears to have benefited from her training time at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca this March, where she received encouragement from the `King of Clay`.
“I spent three days there, which was amazing, I`m so grateful they gave me that opportunity at Rafa`s. I love Rafa,” Klugman said.
“He told me, once you have the level, things will come, so trust the hard work, the process. If you`re not getting results right now, you have to keep believing.”
British Duo Reach Men`s Doubles Final
Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski have advanced to the final of the men`s doubles.
The British pair defeated Americans Christian Harrison and Evan King 10-7 in a deciding-set tie-break.
Neither Skupski nor Salisbury, who teamed up at the start of the season, had previously gone beyond the men`s quarter-finals.
They will face Marcel Granollers of Spain and Argentina`s Horacio Zeballos in the final on Saturday.
Hewett Reaches Men`s Wheelchair Singles Final
Alfie Hewett reached the men`s wheelchair singles final after defeating Argentinian fourth seed Gustavo Fernandez in three sets.
Hewett, the second seed and a three-time winner, will take on top-ranked Japanese star Tokito Oda in the final.
A delighted Hewett said: “I think the strongest part of my game today was my mentality, because when he has the momentum, it`s very difficult to disrupt his rhythm. I was 5-3 down in the third, and for me, the game at 5-4 was crucial, but I didn`t imagine it would go all the way to 12-10 in a third set breaker.”
“I`m just happy that I didn`t bottle it. It means everything to me, to be honest, as I had flashbacks (of last year`s semi-final) popping into my head towards the end of the third set, and I didn`t want history to repeat itself.”
Hewett will also aim for a seventh doubles title with fellow Brit Gordon Reid in the final, facing Oda and 54-year-old Frenchman Stephane Houdet.
