Homegrown Hannah Klugman hopes she can follow in the footsteps of Andy Murray and Laura Robson after keeping her Junior Wimbledon hopes alive.
The SW19-based player, 14, battled past Moroccan Malak El Allami 7-5 7-6(2) in two close sets to book her place in the last 16 of the girls’ singles at the All England Club.
Klugman, who is supported by the LTA’s Men’s & Women’s Programme, stunned ninth seed Federica Urgesi in her opening game on Sunday and now faces more experienced Japanese player Sayaka Ishii, 17, for a place in the quarter-finals.
The south-west London local has vivid memories of watching Murray clinch his storied Wimbledon triumph a decade ago and now wants to emulate Robson by becoming Britain’s first junior winner since 2008.
She said: “I used to come here with my mum when I was five and always loved it.
“Watching Andy Murray win it is definitely my standout memory.
“I’d love to win Wimbledon – 100 per cent and that’s a massive goal.
“I love the buzz, it’s crazy – it’s tough to relax a little bit more.
“A lot of family and friends came out today – I had all my sisters, my mum and dad and loads of my friends.
“My grandpa and granny were there and they’ve not watched me much.
“I’m still at school at Wimbledon High School, who are really good to me at letting me go out and play more tennis and go to tournaments.
“I love seeing my friends at school and chatting to people who aren’t always in tennis to take myself away from it.”
Klugman’s triumph was one of four for British girls on a memorable Monday at the All England Club, with Mimi Xu, Mika Stojsavljevic and Ranah Stoiber also advancing to the last 16.
Xu, 15, stunned American sixth seed Kaitlin Quevedo while Stojsavljevic, 14 and the same age as Klugman, similarly shocked Peruvian fourth seed Lucciana Perez Alarcon.
Klugman says she’s loving the camaraderie among the juniors and hopes the in-form quartet can continue a magical week on home soil.
“We try and all support each other,” she added.
“In the changing rooms we’ve been watching – we try to get out there and support each other as much as possible.”
For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website
