Brit Klugman to face Stusek in the final of Petits As

The girls’ final at the Petits As de Tarbes, the unofficial World Under-14 Championship, will pit Germany’s Julia Stusek against Britain’s Hannah Klugman on Sunday.

It is not the final that might have been expected from the seedings, but it is perhaps the most exciting and enjoyable, on paper, that the tournament could have hoped for.

It will pit the No 3 seed Stusek against the unseeded Klugman, who was among the favourites before the competition.

Klugman, who turns 13 this year, was beaten in the semi-finals last year by eventual winner Mathilde NGijol Carré.

Klugman’s progress

But since then, time has wrought some changes. Klugman has grown a little. She has expended less energy as the rounds have gone on, and even the size and weight of the striking of the Belarusian Polina Kuharenko, winner of the previous day’s match against second seed Laura Samsonova, could do nothing to challenge her already complete game.

Klugman won 6-2, 6-2, responding to all kinds of aggression from her opponent – while things were more difficult for Stusek, who was up against top Alena Kovackova.

Kovackova was tireless in the exchange and eventually gave in to Stusek’s variety of shots and counter-attacks (3-6, 6-2, 6-4). Seriously challenged in the last two rounds, Stusek has already proved she is a brilliant competitor. The intelligence of the two finalists and their ability to play their best tennis under pressure promises a great final for the spectators at the Parc Expo, where admission is free as long as seats are available.

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