By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday December 10, 2023
14-year-old Brit Hannah Klugman has joined the prestigious honor roll at the Orange Bowl 18s.
Klugman defeated American Tyra Grant 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday on the gree Har-Tru clay in Plantation, Florida to complete her title run and become the first British woman to ever win the prestigious junior title.
Klugman joins a lofty list that includes current Grand Slam champions Coco Gauff, Sofia Kenin, Bianca Andreescu, Caroline Wozniacki as well as legends Chris Evert and Maria Bueno.
Danil Panarin of Russia won the Boys’ 18s title, defeating Luca Preda of Romania 6-4, 6-1. 18-year-old Panarin is the 60th-ranked junior on the ITF Tour.
Past winners among the men are Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, Dominic Thiem and Frances Tiafoe, Klugman reached the US Open Girls’ quarterfinals in September and was a runner-up in doubles at the Wimbledon Girls’ tournament in July (partnering Isabelle Lacy).
Earlier this season on the professional circuit, Klugman became the youngest player to qualify for a W100 tournament on the ITF World Tennis Tour after earning her place in the main draw - and going on to reach the quarter-finals - at W100 Shrewsbury.
She is currently the 14th-ranked junior.