Teen Star Klugman Clinches First WTA Win at Nottingham After Six Withdrawals

Hannah Klugman, 17, claimed her first WTA main-draw victory at the Lexus Nottingham Open on Tuesday, defeating wild card Harriet Dart 6-2, 6-4 in the first round. The British player's path to the main draw was extraordinary: after losing in the second qualifying round to Zeynep Sonmez on Sunday, Klugman drove home to London, 128 miles away. However, a cascade of six withdrawals—from Jaqueline Cristian (right knee injury), Iva Jovic (left ankle injury), Barbora Krejcikova (illness), Emma Raducanu (schedule change), Katie Boulter (left knee injury), and Lois Boisson (left lower leg injury)—presented an unexpected opportunity. As the lowest-ranked of the six final-round qualifiers at No. 509, Klugman received a lucky loser berth and had to make an emergency 5 a.m. drive back to Nottingham on Monday evening.

Klugman came from 4-2 down in the second set to overcome Dart, firing six aces and striking powerful down-the-line winners. After the match, she reflected on the dramatic turnaround: "My coach was telling me we had to drive back up at 5 a.m. this morning. It's been a long day for me." She credited her aggressive approach and determination to seize the opportunity, stating she "didn't want to have any regrets after this match." Prior to Nottingham, Klugman compiled a modest 16-13 record, mostly competing at ITF level and struggling with inconsistency as she transitioned from the junior ranks, where she had been ranked No. 1.

Klugman has been working to refine her game, particularly focusing on aggression and reliability with her serve, which she describes as "a massive weapon, especially on the grass." She acknowledged struggling with the professional transition and noted that she had experienced a "tough patch" with double faults early in the season. "These last couple of months, I've decided to be more aggressive," she explained. "When you play these women, you have to be aggressive. You've got to go for it." The timing of her breakthrough victory was bolstered by additional good news: she secured a Wimbledon main-draw wild card for the second consecutive year, having competed there in 2025 and lost to Leylah Fernandez in the first round.

Klugman will face No. 4 seed Marie Bouzkova in the second round. Separately, Turkish player Zeynep Sonmez, who defeated Klugman in qualifying, delivered an upset of her own on Tuesday, defeating No. 2 seed Fernandez 6-4, 7-6(1) after coming from 5-3 down in the match and saving a set point in the second set.