British teenager Hannah Klugman is just one win away from reaching the main Wimbledon draw following an impressive win over 28th seed Linda Fruhvirtova.
The 15-year-old has been tipped for a bright future and became the first British girl to win the prestigious under-18 Orange Bowl title in Florida and made the quarter-finals of the junior US Open competition last year before having to retire midway through the match.
Her impressive start to her junior career saw Wimbledon offer Klugman a wildcard for the qualifying rounds at Roehampton.
Ranked 623rd in the world, Klugman got through the first qualifying round with relative ease against Croatian Petra Marcinko.
Hannah Klugman was delighted after her win
BBC
It set up a much tougher test against Czech Republic teenage star Fruhvirtova, who reached the fourth round of the Australian Open last year.
But Klugman pulled off a huge upset by knocking out the former world No 49 to reach the final round of qualifying.
The young British starlet will face off against American Alycia Parks, who won the Veneto Open last week.
"I'm not sure what just happened, I'm speechless," said Klugman.
"Let's just forget the second set. It was a really good match today.
"Linda Fruhvirtova's such a good player. I remember watching her in the juniors when I was younger.
"To get the win was really good, so emotional.
"I said I don't think I'd ever cry on court but ye it was very emotional."
Hannah Klugman burst into tears after her win
BBC
Klugman grew up playing tennis a stone's throw away from Wimbledon and spent last year as a practice partner for Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva.
She said: "I went to Wimbledon every year because I was playing from such a young age.
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Amazing scenes at Roehampton as 15-year-old Hannah Klugman advances to the final round of #Wimbledon Qualifying 👏🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/PdCryM3cp9
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 26, 2024
"I looked up to those players and I remember watching the finals days and just dreaming.
"I did a whole week with Andreeva last year which was good to see the level, she's doing absolutely amazing, you look up to that but not putting pressure on yourself.
"She's obviously so special, she's 17 but it's your own journey so it's just taking it step by step."
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