Brit sensation Hannah Klugman, 16, breaks down in tears as she's ‘broken physically and mentally' in French Open final
TEEN SENSATION Hannah Klugman started to sob after her French Open final thrashing and admitted: I was broken mentally and physically.
One of the most exciting young talents in British tennis was trounced 6-2 6-0 in 77 minutes by Austrian Lilli Tagger in the finale to the girls' singles competition.
3
3
Klugman, 16, struggled to cope with the windy conditions on Court Simonne-Mathieu.
The Kingston-upon-Thames schoolgirl was trying to become the first Brit to win the Roland Garros junior championship since Michelle Tyler in 1976.
Wiping away the tears, she said: 'I want to start off by saying congratulations to Lilli. Honestly, you deserve it so much.
'You broke me mentally and physically today. It's been a long week. I'm really proud of myself.
'I'm very tired. It's been a long week. I want to thank my team for all of the hard work – it means a lot.
'The crowd, you were amazing, I've never played in an atmosphere like this so thank you so much.
'Hopefully I'll be back some time in the seniors, so thank you so much.'
Seventeen-year-old Tagger – who did not drop a trophy set in the event – secured the title with a 23-minute second set, winning 24 out of 35 points.
For Klugman, there are major lessons to be learned on clay – she had little experience on the surface until spending two months practising on the surface earlier this year.
That included a few days at Rafael Nadal's academy in Spain where she caught the eye of the 22-time major singles winner.
Past winners of the title include future Grand Slam champions Jennifer Capriati, Martina Hingis, Amélie Mauresmo, Justine Henin, Coco Gauff.
Klugman had also contested two Grand Slam girls' doubles finals but lost in the 2023 Wimbledon and this year's Australian Open trophy matches.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
'Wilder moment' - Relive Wardley's knockout of Huni
Update: Date: 23:30 BST 7 June Title: Wardley rolls on Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout The Fabio Wardley train rolls on! Justis Huni was putting on a show until Wardley's right hand came to the party at Portman Road and that was that. That's all from us though, thanks for being here for that showstopper and we'll see you again soon. Read Kal Sajad's report from ringside. Update: Date: 23:29 BST 7 June Title: Post Content: Wardley beat Huni by knockout What a night! Update: Date: 23:26 BST 7 June Title: Who can be Britain's next heavyweight superstar? Content: Wardley beat Huni by knockout Time to look back at our story from almost a year ago where we looked at who Britain's next heavyweight star might be. Of course, Daniel Dubois has gone on to become world champion and is one win away from becoming undisputed champion of the world, but two of the other three are still going strong. Fabio Wardley is heading towards a potential world title fight after dealing with Justis Huni in extraordinary fashion. Johnny Fisher may need to go back to to the drawing board after a heavy knockout loss to David Allen. Take a look for yourself here. Update: Date: 23:23 BST 7 June Title: 'It adds to the mystique around Wardley' Content: Wardley beat Huni by knockout Carl FramptonFormer world champion on DAZN I didn't see it coming. Fair play to Fabio for pulling that out of the bag. It adds to the mystique around him and his background. He got compeltely outboxed but he still had the dynamite to finish it off. When you carry power like that, you can do that. I think Justis Huni got a little be complacent and walked into one. Update: Date: 23:21 BST 7 June Title: 'He's just an awesome fighter' Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout Justis Huni speaking to DAZN: "That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight. I'm grateful to Fabio and his team and to Ipswich to be able to perform in front of you. Get behind him, he's going to do great things. "He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win, he deserves it. Thank you Ipswich for the opportunity to perform here, I'm grateful." Update: Date: 23:19 BST 7 June Title: 'That was a Deontay Wilder moment' Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout Queensberry promoter Frank Warren speaking to DAZN: "Eat your heart out Deontay Wilder, that was a Deontay Wilder moment. He's got a big heart, he's a powerful man and again, he stopped another one. I've got to take my hat off to Justis Huni, they both boxed very well. Ipswich, you did him proud and he did Ipswich proud too. "After that fight, it will settle the heavyweight division now to know who will be the mandatories. He is there. He's going to take a bit of time out now. Let the dust settle. He's in the position and he's done that through sheer grit, sheer hear. "This is such a fabulous place to put a fight on. I'm sorry about the rain, but everyone stayed and both men put on a great fight." Update: Date: 23:17 BST 7 June Title: Simpson stops Zucco in Oakwell Content: If you're wondering what happened in the other fight tonight, well it was also a cracker! Callum Simpson was knocked down TWICE by Ivan Zucco before pulling off a last-gasp knockout in the tenth round. These football ground fights, eh? Update: Date: 23:16 BST 7 June Title: Post Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout That was boxing at it's finest, wasn't it? Fabio Wardley was miles behind on the cards and then pulls out the punch of his life. Update: Date: 23:14 BST 7 June Title: Get Involved Content: #bbcboxing, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply) Absolute detonation!!! Unbelievable shot. Though he has to shore up those defences because any top Heavyweight will knock him down long before he gets a chance. He won't get the time he got tonight. But a totally unreal ending! Will MK Update: Date: 23:12 BST 7 June Title: 'I know how to win fights' Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout Fabio Wardley speaking to DAZN: "Before we say anything, I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone in this building tonight. I've been on this weird and wonderful journey in boxing and I wouldn't be here without you. This isn't just for me, it's for all of you. "I don't profess to being any (Oleksandr) Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight. "Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. I should've performed better in some of those rounds. "He's a great boxer, some great skills and he showed me everything he had tonight. I didn't expect to bank rounds like that with Justis. I hurt him a bit in the first round and maybe I had too much confidence early on." Update: Date: 23:11 BST 7 June Title: Post Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout What's next for Fabio Wardley then? A world title shot? I'm sure we'd all love to see that. Update: Date: 23:10 BST 7 June Title: Post Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout Darren BarkerFormer world middleweight champion on DAZN The name of Fabio Wardley grows around Ipswich now, he is a star. Update: Date: 23:08 BST 7 June Title: Get Involved Content: #bbcboxing, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply) Unbelievable!! Fabio 'Rocky' Wardley!!!!!! Adam - keep believing & never give up Update: Date: 23:07 BST 7 June Title: Post Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout Update: Date: 23:06 BST 7 June Title: Post Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout Boos for Huni at the start have now turned to cheers. That tells you everything you need to know about Huni's performance. Update: Date: 23:04 BST 7 June Title: Post Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout Credit to Huni for taking the fight on short notice and putting on a real show at Portman Road but no one could've stood up to that kind of power. Wow. Update: Date: 23:03 BST 7 June Title: Post Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout Wardley and Huni embrace as Ed Sheeran is playing (obviously) but let's hear from Wardley. We'll have full quotes coming your way very soon. Update: Date: 23:02 BST 7 June Title: Post Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout Barry JonesFormer world champion on DAZN Fabio Wardley was getting totally outboxed, but in one punch it is over. That is what makes a legend. Update: Date: 23:01 BST 7 June Title: Post Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout Still can't believe what I've just seen. Boxing is incredible. Update: Date: 23:00 BST 7 June Title: Post Content: Wardley beats Huni by knockout Huni came in with the right and BANG, Wardley lands an absolute monster of a right hand on the button. That is what Wardley does!
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
One-punch knockout saves Wardley in Huni title bout
British heavyweight Fabio Wardley delivered a stunning, one-punch 10th-round knockout to stop Justis Huni and claim the vacant interim WBA dramatic, unforgettable finish sent a rain-soaked Portman Road crowd into by a vocal home crowd of around 20,000 at Ipswich Town's ground, an outboxed Wardley struggled to find his rhythm and pin down the slicker, sharper on the scorecards and facing defeat by the Australian, all it took was a single punch to turn things around for the landed a thunderous right hand on the chin to send Huni, 26, crashing to the canvas. "Eat your heart out Deontay Wilder, that was a Deontay Wilder moment," Wardley's promoter Frank Warren said victory marked Wardley's 18th knockout in 19 professional wins and moved him one step closer to a world title shot."I don't profess to being any [Oleksandr] Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight," said Wardley."Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. I should've performed better in some of those champions Usyk and Daniel Dubois set to meet for the undisputed title in July, Wardley – now ranked number one by the WBA – is well-positioned for a shot at global who replaced American Jarrell Miller on short notice, suffered his first professional defeat after 12 consecutive wins."That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight," he said. Dramatic turnaround provides perfect homecoming An outdoor fight in the United Kingdom is never without its risks. Fans wore ponchos and reporters scrambled for shelter as heavy rain fell throughout the downpour eased when Brisbane native Huni made his ring walk to a predictably hostile reception, before the mood shifted as a steely-faced and focused Wardley in the golden glow of the floodlight, the Ipswich-born boxer soaked in the moment he had been dreaming of since turning opening rounds saw both fighters cautiously size each other - well-schooled and boasting serious amateur pedigree – landed a thudding left hook followed by a sharp right in the who only took up boxing at 19 and turned pro after just four white-collar bouts, was known for his raw power and ability to dig it was Huni landing the cleaner shots, especially with that left only two contests beyond six rounds in his career, Wardley began to feel the pace. His timing was off and a grimace in the seventh said it all after Huni whipped in a punishing right when it seemed the homecoming would turn into a nightmare, Wardley achieved one of the biggest turnarounds in recent times to send the crowd into a his beloved football team's recent relegation from the Premier League, with the Tractor Boys failing to register a single home league win in 2025, Wardley brought the good times back to Ipswich. What next for Wardley? Wardley's meteoric rise is nothing short of remarkable, especially for someone who only laced up the gloves a decade said, there is room for caution. He struggled for large parts of the fight, raising the question of whether he is ready to mix it with Usyk, Dubois or Joseph Parker - three of the division's most in-form Wardley has cleared every hurdle put in front of him in the pro ranks. He stopped domestic rival David Adeleye, beat Olympic medallist Frazer Clarke in a thriller, and has now added a respected international name in Huni with a dramatic, highlight-reel when he has that sort of equaliser in his locker, he is a dangerous proposition for any heavyweight will now take some well-earned time to enjoy a more personal milestone, with his partner due to give birth to their first child in a matter of days.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Coco Gauff hits back at Aryna Sabalenka's sour claim that Iga Swiatek would have beaten her in the French Open final
Coco Gauff has hit back at Aryna Sabalenka 's contention that Iga Swiatek would have beaten her in the French Open final. The 21-year-old American sensation conquered Roland-Garros for the very first time after coming from behind to defeat the top-ranked Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. This marked the second Grand Slam of Gauff's career, having also claimed the 2023 US Open title. The world No 2 became the first American to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015. To tee up Saturday's showdown, Gauff beat Lois Boisson in the semi-final, while Sabalenka edged past world No 5 Swiatek. And in an ungracious press-conference after the final, Sabalenka argued that Swiatek would have beaten Gauff had she progressed past the semi-final. Sabalenka said: 'That hurts. Especially when I've been playing really great tennis during the whole week. A lot of tough opponents, Iga. 'I think if Iga would have beaten me, she would go out today and she would get the win.' Gauff parried the distasteful claim away and cited her victory in straight sets against Swiatek at the Madrid Open earlier this year, which was also on clay. Gauff rebutted: 'I mean, I don't agree with that. I'm here sitting here (with the trophy). Last time I played - no shade to Iga or anything, but I played her and I won in straight sets (in Madrid). 'I don't think that's a fair thing to say, because anything can happen. The way Aryna was playing the last few weeks, she was the favourite to win the title. If you asked me, honestly, who I wanted to play, it was Iga just because I felt Aryna was playing so good, and she was. 'But regardless of who I played, I think I had a good shot to win. I definitely had that belief.' Sabalenka made 70 unforced errors in blustery conditions, and said: 'It felt like a joke. Like somebody from above was laughing: let's see if you can handle this 'After two weeks of incredible tennis, in the final in terrible conditions to play such terrible tennis really hurts. 'It felt like she (Gauff) was hitting the ball off the frame and somehow magically it lands in the court. I don't think she won the match because she played incredible, just because I made all those mistakes.' The world No 1 went on to blame the conditions, namely the wind, and admitted her emotions got the better of her. 'They were terrible. The wind was terrible. Coco simply handled it better,' Sabalenka added. 'Also, I was overemotional. I think I didn't have a good mental grip on myself today. That was basically it,' said the world number 1. In detail: 'Whenever she hit the ball, the wind would eventually make it fly like crazy, and I was always too late. It just felt like a joke, like someone from above was just laughing and saying, 'Let's see if you can do this.' And today I couldn't.'
