Chiang Mai girl’s win at Wimbledon
Chiang Mai’s Noppawan Lertcheewakarn said on Sunday that she was stunned by winning the Wimbledon junior title.
The 17-year-old from Chiang Mai, who was runner-up to Britain’s Laura Robson last year, became the first Thai to win the girls’ tournament after seeing off top seed and French Open champion Kristina Mladenovic of France 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
“It means everything,” Noppawan said. “I didn’t think I was going to win here. In my first match I had five match points against me, and then today, after I lost the first set I didn’t think I was going to win, but I just fought.
“It’s good – it’s for the Thai people, and I will get a wildcard for the seniors next year so I am very happy to win
World number one Mladenovic admitted that a knee injury in the final set had slowed her down.
“Noppawan was better than me, she was in better shape than me. I had some problems – I couldn’t push up on my serve – but I tried to give my best and I have no regrets about that.
“I’m disappointed but I see some more matches for me in the future. I will not be disappointed for so long. It’s not that today I was in such bad (form) that it’s going to kill me for a while, it’s just tennis.”
Noppawan joins a list of junior winners that include recent Wimbledon champions in Martina Hingis and Amelie Mauresmo.
