The Future Of British Tennis?

[ClareTG0ld]

I've been following her progress for about two years now - but Hannah Klugman is finally beginning to get noticed at the top level! Yesterday she won the prestigious Orange Bowl - something of a "fifth Slam" of Junior tennis - at the age of only 14. Not quite a record at this event, but only a month behind Coco Gauff's age when she won the same event in 2018, and she hasn't turned out too badly!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/67677979

https://archive.ph/vjcTb (Times article)

I think it's important to be level-headed about this: junior events are not always a sign of senior success, and there is a long way to go yet in Klugman's development. But it's exciting all the same, especially when I've been watching her progress already for so long. Hopefully there's much more to come in the years ahead!

[brainiac]

Blimey, she looks a lot older than 14

[calmck]

Let's hope the press leave her alone and that she can reach her potential without a media frenzy

[Mozz71]

I don't mean this nastily, but it may well be to her advantage to not be as pretty as Emma Radicanu. Less press intrusion, less distracting photo shoots and lower expectations. Hope Hannah can stay healthy and match Emma's initial success.

[ClareTG0ld]

I'm not sure it matters if you mean it nastily or not; comments about the looks of a 14-year-old girl strike me as, at the very least, beside the point (and frankly inappropriate). It also misunderstands, I think, Emma's own story since 2021, where a rather bigger distraction has been (a) the constant injuries, on various degrees from niggling to career-threatening, and (b) the coaching merry-go-round, leading to a further lack of stability.

Also, young and successful can still capture a lot of attention -- there were more than a few management agencies looking to snap her up, apparently, after yesterday's win. But Klugman's family are sensible, it seems, and have turned them down at this point. That is the relevant point. 

[Mozz71]

You're right. I sound like an utter 🍆. 

 

I knew what I wanted to say, but it just sounds scummy.

 

[Canary42]

I know what you meant Mozz (and I'm sure CTG does as well) and whether we like it or not it is a relevant point.  The Mucky Media make much of girls' physical appearances and can be very unkind at times to those they consider not gifted in that respect (as can Joe Public of course).  Emma was (is) much glamourised by the seedier members of the Press Corps.

It will certainly be lovely to see Hannah continue her fine progress and become a leading tennis star.