British junior, 16, reaches the French Open final for first time in 49 years after helping hand from Jack Draper

• Hannah Klugman, 16, from Wimbledon, reached the junior French Open finals 
• The last British junior to contest a singles final in Paris was Michelle Tyler in 1976 

By MATTHEW LAMBWELL AT ROLAND GARROS

Hannah Klugman became the first British junior finalist at the French Open in almost 50 years – thanks, in part, to a lunch meeting with Jack Draper.

The 16-year-old from Wimbledon beat Bulgaria’s Rositsa Dencheva, her senior by two years, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 and will play in her first junior Grand Slam final on Saturday against Austrian Lilli Tagger.

The last British junior to contest a singles final here was Michelle Tyler, who won the title in 1976.

Klugman has long been marked for success, her name feted in British tennis circles since her pre-teen years. But last season was a struggle and her coach Ben Haran thought a chat with the British No1 might help.

‘I struggled a bit,’ said Klugman, the junior world No6, of her 2024 season, ‘I was working so hard and I felt like I was getting better, but I wasn’t seeing results.

‘My coach knows Jack quite well so he set up a lunch for me.

Hannah Klugman became the first British junior finalist at the French Open in almost 50 years 

The last British junior to contest a singles final here was Michelle Tyler, who won in 1976

The 16-year-old from Wimbledon beat Bulgaria’s Rositsa Dencheva, her senior by two years

‘Jack opened my perspective that everyone is going through these troubles – you don’t realize it, but they are.

‘Taking a step back, taking your time and realizing it’s OK. You’re working hard and it will get there.

‘His big thing is consistency: every day working hard with the right mentality and things will come, it’s just a matter of time.’

Things are coming now for Klugman, and it is a reward for some hard work learning to love the distinct challenges of clay court tennis.

‘It’s just a mentality thing. It’s different. Every point is a grind, you’ve got to be ready for it and I think accepting that is the key.

‘Me and my coach said let’s do two months on clay, get my tennis better, my mentality better.

‘I’ve improved massively by going on the clay. I think it’s really helped me.’

Klugman had a meeting with British No1 Jack Draper before reaching the final at Roland Garros 

Klugman has long been marked for success, her name feted in British tennis circles for years

Part of that clay court block was spent at Rafael Nadal’s academy – where Klugman met the great man himself. She is one match away from joining the Spaniard as a Roland Garros champion.

‘We had an absolutely tough match three weeks ago,’ said Klugman of her opponent Tagger, who beat her in Terrassa, Catalonia.

‘These moments don’t happen a lot, so trying to enjoy it is a big part.

‘My coach and physio are basically saying go out there and enjoy it, because you might never be in the spot again.’

:
British junior, 16, reaches the French Open final for first time in 49 years after helping hand from Jack Draper

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk