HANNAH KLUGMAN'S bid to become Britain’s first French Open juniors champion in 49 years ended in a straight-sets defeat to Austrian Lilli Tagger in the final.

Klugman, 16, was beaten 6-2 6-0 by 17-year-old Tagger in front of a packed Court Simonne-Mathieu.

Klugman, ranked 13th in the world junior rankings, was hoping to emulate Michelle Tyler, the last British player to win the girls’ title in 1976.

But it was a big step up in class for the Kingston-Upon-Thames player, as Tagger had beaten Roland Garros semi-finalist Lois Boisson at an ITF tournament in Spain just a couple of months ago.

“I knew it was going to be tough,” she said. “I definitely really, really struggled today, physically. You know, my first ever slam final in juniors.

“I’m so proud of myself. It’s just something to build on and get better. Coming home with a trophy is pretty cool and I can’t wait for the next few months coming up.”

Klugman will now set her sights on the grass season and a potential wildcard for Wimbledon.

“I don’t really know the situation,” she said. “But I’m definitely having a few days off before I start playing a tournament.

“Hopefully I’ll play Nottingham and then from then on, I’m really not sure — that kind of depends on all the wildcards and the opportunities I get.”

Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski also missed out on a historic victory in the men’s doubles.

They were bidding to become the first British winners since Fred Perry and Pat Hughes in 1933, but lost 6-0 6-7 (5) 7-5 to Marcel Granollers of Spain and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos.

Britain’s Alfie Hewett, who was looking for a fourth Paris singles title and a first since 2021, was beaten 6-4 7-6 (6) by Japan’s Tokito Oda in the men’s wheelchair final.

Hewett later teamed up with Scotland’s Gordon Reid in the doubles to win their 23rd grand slam title, beating Oda and Frenchman Stephane Houdet 6-4 1-6 10-7.