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Hannah Klugman says it has been a ‘great learning experience’ after a promising run in the Nottingham Open came to an end on Thursday.
The British teenager recorded her first win at WTA tour level on Tuesday after beating compatriot Harriet Dart, having returned to the main draw as a lucky loser.
In full flow against the British number five to win in straight sets, the 17-year-old made an impressive start against Marie Bouzkova on centre court before fading to a 7-5, 6-2 loss.
“Getting to play matches against players in the top 150 or 200 was a great learning experience for me,” Klugman said after the game.
“My coach has been saying how much this is going to help me improve.
“I’ve been practising with some great players and I’ve seen what the day in, day out looks like for the future. I’m ready to build on it.”
The Brit suffered an early break to the world number 27 but responded well despite her age, impressing with a fierce passing forehand winner to get back on serve at 3-3, before creating three break points to take a 5-3 lead.
However, the Czech saved them all and eventually went on to win the next three games to close out the first set.
Still relatively new to the senior ranks after a positive time as a junior, Klugman’s fatigue started to set in the following set, 45 unforced errors and nine double faults, as Bouzkova went on to secure her spot in the quarter-final in Nottingham.
All in all, it has been a hugely positive week for the teenager who prepares for her appearance in Wimbledon’s main draw for women’s singles after being awarded a wildcard earlier this week.
There’s still some British interest left in Nottingham on the women’s side, in the doubles, as Maia Lumsden and Harriet Dart booked their spot in the semi-final.
The all-Brit pair came out on top in a tightly contested first set 7-5 before sweeping aside Storm Hunter and Caty McNally 6-2 in the second set to reach the final four of the tournament on home soil.
Embed from Getty ImagesThey will face an all-Polish pairing – and the third seed – of Janice Tjen and Aldila Sutjiadi on Friday (19 June).
