Emma Raducanu’s success inspiring a new generation of British hopefuls
The hype machine began to whirl around Mika Stojsavljevic as she lifted the US Open Junior title last September, but this teenage tennis hopeful appears to be well equipped to deal with success.
Any British Junior who makes their mark on a world stage will inevitably draw comparisons with their 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu, with Stojsavljevic’s on the same Flushing Meadows stage a headline-grabbing moment.
Yet this impressively grounded 16-year-old has not allowed her moment in the New York spotlight to have an effect on her mindset, as she has continued to focus on her studies and slowly build towards the moment when she becomes a professional player.
Another step on Stojsavljevic’s journey was marked on Easter Friday, as she beat the equally promising Hannah Klugman in a high-quality LTA Junior Nationals 18 & Under final to claim the most prestigious junior title in the British game.
The win secured Stojsavljevic a golden chance to play in the main draw at Wimbledon in July, as she has been granted a wildcard into qualifying for the grass court Grand Slam.
Yet as she reflected on the latest big win in her career, Stojsavljevic made it clear that her studies were just as important as the tennis for now.
More Tennis News
Why Emma Raducanu could make a big rankings jump during the clay season
Emma Raducanu may have lost some sponsors – but why are her critics so happy about it?
“I’m really focusing on my studies this year, so this is a huge bonus to win this tournament. My GCSE exams are coming up soon and that is the main priority this year,” said Stojsavljevic.
“Fitting in school around tennis is tough. I have to stay really disciplined. Sometimes that is easier to do than others. I just need to find time every day to keep up with my school work.”
Lucrative offers to play tennis on the American college circuit will now be coming Stojsavljevic’s way, with her development at the LTA’s National Academy in Loughborough reaping rewards amid her impressive development over the last couple of years.
Klugman has long been mentioned as the rising star of British junior tennis, but Stojsavljevic managed to beat her for the first time in their most significant match to date as she recorded a 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory in front of a healthy crowd at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre.
“It was a great match and I always see pressure as a privilege,” she said. “I really enjoy dealing with the nerves. It helps me to play better. It is the first time I have beaten Hannah, so I’m very happy. It was tricky in the third set as the wind picked up and I had a few problems with the ball toss, but it’s great to get the win.
“It was great to have a crowd here today and everyone who came down really appreciates tennis. It really lifted the whole energy of the event.”
Stojsavljevic’s maturity on and off the court is so impressive for a player so young and the same can be said of Klugman and an impressive cohort of British junior girls driving each other on to greater heights.
Mimi Xu is another British teenager to watch after she won the LTA Junior National title Stojsavljevic won on Friday, with the LTA development programme overseen by Katie O’Brien offering the potential for future stars to emerge.
“We have really good depth of talent amongst our junior girls,” O’Brien told the LTA.
“Our girls all get along so well and it feels like they are driving each other on, while also inspiring the generation just behind them.
“It helps that they are developing as a pack. There is not a single stand-out player as they are all very good, so they will drive each other on and progress together.”
With Henry Searle winning Junior Wimbledon in 2023 and the highly rated Oliver Bonding backing up his reputation as a rising star of the men’s game by winning the 2025 LTA’s Junior Nationals Boys’ title, British tennis has a impressive production line of talent emerging who are offering hope of more Grand Slam glory after the successes for Andy Murray and Raducanu.
READ NEXT: Meet the British teenager who followed in Emma Raducanu’s footsteps by winning a US Open title
