This Tuesday at 10am, the second round of the Roland Garros Junior Championships will witness a mouth-watering clash between two of the most promising young stars in women’s tennis: the Franco-Russian prodigy Ksenia Efremova and Britain’s very own Hannah Klugman. The latter, who has just turned 16, seems to finally embody the long-awaited revival of British women’s tennis.
In recent years, names like Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva have emerged as teenage sensations, imposing their authority early on the women’s tour. Very soon, Hannah Klugman could be mentioned in the same breath, as her rise through the ranks has been nothing short of meteoric.
Born and raised in Wimbledon, just a stone’s throw from the iconic Centre Court, Klugman’s story is laced with symbolism. As a young girl, she played for hours with her sisters on the courts of the Westside Tennis Club, and from an early age, her connection to the sport’s spiritual home was undeniable. That deep-rooted bond with the grass courts would soon translate into early success. Aged just 13, she received a wildcard into the junior draw at Wimbledon : a symbolic breakthrough that was to be the beginning of a remarkable journey.
By September 2023, Klugman had reached the quarter-finals of the US Open juniors, a major statement of intent. The following month, she made further history by becoming the youngest player ever to qualify for a $100,000 ITF event, storming into the quarter-finals in Shrewsbury aged just 14. But her real breakout moment came in December 2023, when she lifted the prestigious Orange Bowl title, becoming the first British girl in history to do so. It’s a title previously won by legends such as Chris Evert, Caroline Wozniacki and Coco Gauff – all Grand Slam champions, and a list Klugman will no doubt be aiming to join in the years to come.
The Gauff comparisons don’t end there. Like the American starlet, Klugman attempted to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon at just 15 years old. She came agonisingly close, knocking out Linda Fruhvirtova – ranked over 370 places above her, before falling short in the final hurdle against Alycia Parks. The performance, however, underscored her capacity to raise her game under pressure, a trait that separates the good from the great. Now hovering around world No. 510, she continues to balance a demanding schedule of tournaments with remote schooling and the everyday challenges of teenage life.
A well-rounded player in the mould of Britain’s great hopes.
What stands out most about Klugman, beyond her age is the maturity and intelligence of her game. Much like Mirra Andreeva, who she openly admires, Klugman doesn’t rely solely on raw power – though her serve already clocks over 112mph (180km/h). She constructs her points with impressive tactical awareness, varying her rhythm, mixing up pace, and showcasing a sharp on-court IQ rarely seen at this age. At the Orange Bowl, it was precisely this calculated approach that led her to the title, staying composed under pressure and maintaining a level head in key moments. When she crashed out in Mexico only to bounce back days later with a title in Florida, it spoke volumes of her mental resilience.
Despite her youth, Klugman is no stranger to the halls of the Lawn Tennis Association. Supported by the likes of Britain’s top-ranked players Jack Draper and Katie Boulter, she is widely seen as the most exciting British prospect since the days of Laura Robson and Heather Watson : a promising generation that, sadly, never quite fulfilled its potential. As of 2025, no other British girl under 18 has shown such a consistent and structured development path, even if a few others have caught the eye at times.
The challenge ahead will be to keep that momentum without rushing the process. Her current aim is to gradually transition onto the professional circuit and begin making inroads into higher-tier tournaments. With her well-rounded game, strong support network, and the head on her shoulders, Klugman has all the tools to lead the next wave of British women’s tennis. The country hasn’t seen a female Grand Slam champion win multiple majors since Virginia Wade in the 1970s – a long drought by any measure. If talent, discipline and fortune align, then don’t be surprised if, one day, Centre Court welcomes back one of its own, not as a local girl with a dream, but as the latest British champion to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish in front of a rapturous home crowd.
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