Latest news with #KingstonUponThames
The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Brit tennis sensation Hannah Klugman becomes first Brit female since Sue Barker 49 years ago to reach French Open final
SHOCKED Hannah Klugman will attempt to win a maiden Grand Slam on Saturday… aged 16. The Kingston-upon-Thames schoolgirl is the first British player to reach the French Open juniors final in almost 50 years. 2 2 The 16-year-old battled through the semi-finals with a gritty 1-6 6-3 6-3 win over Bulgarian Rositsa Dencheva. Michelle Tyler, now 66, claimed the girls' title in Paris in 1976, the same year Sue Barker won the women's senior event. Klugman will face Austrian Lilli Tagger, 17, in Saturday's final and she said: 'I'm just a bit shocked to be honest. 'I wasn't playing my best and I found it tough to get myself into the match. 'I felt like as soon as I did that I was in a good space and I thought I could do well if I got into the match. 'I think I've been mentally very good this week. "I think I'm staying calm in big moments and also just trying to take it in. '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 never know if you'll be in the spot again.' Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski reached the final of the men's doubles as they beat Americans Christian Harrison and Evan King 6-7 6-3 7-6 in a deciding-set tie-break. They will meet Spaniard Marcel Granollers and Argentina's Horacio Zeballos for the Championship but the last British winners on this trophy were Fred Perry and Pat Hughes in 1933. Alfie Hewett beat Argentine Gustavo Fernández 6-4 4-6 7-6 to reach the wheelchair singles final – where he plays No.1 seed Tokito Oda – and he is trying to win a fourth title, a first since 2021.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Hannah Klugman ends 49-year wait for British junior French Open finalist
Hannah Klugman has become the first British player to reach the French Open juniors final in almost 50 years. The 16-year-old from Kingston-upon-Thames battled through to her maiden grand slam final after a gritty 1-6 6-3 6-3 win over Bulgarian Rositsa Dencheva. Klugman is the first Briton to achieve the feat since Michelle Tyler claimed the title in 1976, the same year Sue Barker won the women's event. "I'm just a bit shocked to be honest," she said. "I wasn't playing my best and I found it tough to get myself into the match. "I felt like as soon as I did that I was in a good space and I thought I could do well if I got into the match. "I think I've been mentally very good this week. I think I'm staying calm in big moments and also just trying to take it in. "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 never know if you'll be in the spot again." Klugman will face 17-year-old Austrian Lilli Tagger in Saturday's final. Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski are through to the final of the men's doubles. The British pair beat Americans Christian Harrison and Evan King 10-7 in a deciding-set tie-break. Neither Skupski or Salisbury, who linked up at the start of the season, had previously progressed beyond the men's quarter-finals. They will meet Marcel Granollers of Spain and Argentina's Horacio Zeballos in the final. PA
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Chelsea star banned from driving after racking up more points on license than Man Utd have in Premier League
CHELSEA star Wesley Fofana has been banned from driving for two years after racking up 47 points on his licence. The French international's tally would see him finish higher than several Premier League giants this season — including Manchester United, who sit on 39 points. 2 2 Lavender Hill magistrates' court in South West London heard on Wednesday that he had committed eight offences in three different vehicles in less than a year. Fofana, 24, who did not appear at court, was dubbed a 'habitual speeder' by chairman of the bench John Soones, who slapped the defender with a further 38 points on top of his previous nine. Mr Soones said: 'We take into account the fact he is a habitual speeder, with access to powerful motor cars, who speeds at nearly double the speed limit.' The earliest offence was last March when he drove his Lamborghini Urus at 26mph in a 20mph zone in Brixton, South London. Fofana was then caught five times behind the wheel of his £300,000 Rolls-Royce Cullinan and twice in his blue 4.0-litre Audi — all in a 50mph zone on the A3 Esher bypass. He hit speeds of up to 88mph on the route he regularly uses to get to and from his home in Kingston-upon-Thames to the club's training ground in Cobham, Surrey. Fofana, who admitted all offences, had so many they were scattered throughout the building's courtrooms. Chairman Mr Soones said: 'He's got a flush. He is in court one, two and three. But we have gathered them all together'. His lawyer Imogen Cox told the court: 'He is a young man that plays football for a living and he works extremely hard, training, and has foolishly not complied with the rules of the road.' Fofana was fined £5,328, plus a £2,131 victim surcharge and £110 in costs. He was previously disqualified for six months in January 2023 for speeding. The player is regarded as a 'sick note' by Chelsea fans due to long absences after two major knee injuries since his £70million switch from Leicester City in 2022.
