British teenager inspired by Emma Raducanu ahead of Wimbledon debut
Hannah Klugman is preparing to make her debut in the main draw at Wimbledon next week and she is undecided on who she wants to get in the draw.
Klugman is one of a handful of young British players set to make their first appearance in a Grand Slam after being handed a wild card by the All England Club, with Junior US Open champion Mika Stojsavljevic and Welsh hopeful Mimi Xu also on in the main draw at Wimbledon.
Still only 16, Klugman reached the final of the Junior French Open tournament at Roland Garros earlier this month and has been hailed a star in the making after some impressive performances at junior level.
Now she is preparing to play the biggest match of her life and she could be drawn against world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, newly crowned French Open champion Coco Gauff or even 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu.
Tennis365 caught up with Klugman as she played in her first senior exhibition match at The Boodles tennis event in Stoke Park and she told us she was excited by the prospect of what was to come at Wimbledon.
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“I’ll take, I’ll take whoever I’m honestly, I’ll take whoever,” said Klugman, as she looked ahead to her Wimbledon debut. “It would be amazing to play on Centre Court, but I mean, I’ll take what I can get.
“I don’t think anyone wants to play a Brit a Wimbledon. The British youngsters have nothing to lose. So no matter what happens out there, just enjoy it.
“And it’s an opportunity that not many people get to experience. So, you know, I’m not going to forget that. Hopefully it’s one of many as well. So kind of trying to take it in my stride and enjoy the moment.”
Klugman has pieced together an impressive junior career, but she admits the challenge of making a step up to the senior ranks will be a big task.
She has played in some LTA grass court tournaments this month and admits the step up in quality is a big challenge.
“The tournaments I played were very strong and it is different for sure,” she continued. “Juniors is obviously this amazing little stepping stone and you’ve got to level up a little bit
“Sometimes I feel like a bit out of place. I still feel a bit like a junior, and the atmosphere if a bit different at the senior events.
“So I think that’s kind of, kind of getting my head around that. You need to feel you belong here and you earned it.
“Sometimes it’s a bit stressed, it’s a women’s event and, it’s a bit different, but I think all these opportunities are amazing.”
Klugman, Stojsavljevic and Xu will get plenty of media attention in Britain as they step on the hallowed turf in the main draw at Wimbledon for the first time and she admits the success of British No 1 Emma Raducanu is a source of inspiration.
Raducanu leapt from the junior ranks in Britain to win the 2021 US Open and Klugman suggests that was a snapshot of what can happen when you step onto the biggest stage of them all in tennis.
“What Emma did was amazing and I think she’s also pushed a lot of the British players as well, like the seniors,” he added.
“I think everyone you know, (Katie) Boulter is doing amazing, Sonay (Kartal) as well. I think when players are doing better, it pushes you to be better.”
Klugman will also play the junior event at Wimbledon this year, assuming she is not in the fourth round in the main draw and if she gets that far, the hype that is already circling around this teenager will see her world transformed for all the right reasons.
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