British 16-year-old wildcard Hannah Klugman hailed her Wimbledon main draw debut an “amazing occasion”, despite her straight-sets defeat to the former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez.
Klugman, who grew up in Wimbledon village, was one of two 16-year-old Brits to be given wildcards into the main draw, following her run to the junior French Open final.
Up against Canadian 29th seed Klugman, who lost to Emma Raducanu in the 2021 US Open final, Klugman was beaten 6-1 6-3 on a boiling hot day as the Wimbledon Championships got underway.
“Obviously, it’s my first main draw match and against such a tough opponent,” Klugman said afterwards. “It was an amazing occasion. I loved the atmosphere, and having my friends and family — I saw them in the corner — it’s amazing.”
Asked what is next for her, Klugman said: “[Wimbledon] juniors. Juniors next week and obviously doubles. So it’s just another opportunity to be on the grass in this amazing place as well. It's amazing.”
Her teammate in the women’s doubles is fellow 16-year-old British wildcard Mika Stojsavljevic, who won the junior US Open in 2024.
Stojsavljevic was also knocked out in the first round on her Wimbledon debut on Monday as she lost to the American 31st seed Ashlyn Krueger 3-6, 2-6.
Stojsavljevic, who only turned 16 in December, was making her Grand Slam debut, as was her compatriot Klugman.
Meanwhile, Harriet Dart was knocked out of Wimbledon in the first round as she lost 3-6 6-3 7-5 to Dalma Galfi.
Her Hungarian opponent was ranked 42 places above her, in 110th, so the favourite to win, but Dart was left disappointed by a defeat in which she had taken the first set 6-3 on Court 17.
Dart, a wildcard, made only 47 per cent of his first serves throughout the match, with the 28-year-old unable to repeat her run to last year’s Wimbledon third round.
Her conqueror will face the 21nd seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in the second round.
