British junior Hannah Klugman experienced a challenging start to her WTA main-draw debut at the Nottingham Open, where she faced off against the seasoned Yulia Putintseva. The 16-year-old, who recently finished as the runner-up in the French Open girls' final, was defeated 6-2, 6-2 by the world number 27.

Klugman, ranked 577th globally, has been making waves in the junior circuit, notably winning the prestigious Orange Bowl junior championships in Florida at just 14 years old. However, stepping onto the grass court against Putintseva, a former Birmingham Classic champion, proved to be a formidable challenge.

Reflecting on her performance, Klugman shared, "I felt very uncomfortable on my first match on grass, having done a long period on clay, so I struggled today. It was a tough one against a top player - I've never played against someone like that." She also expressed her gratitude towards the supportive crowd and the quality of the court, wishing she could have performed better.

The match saw Klugman struggling with her serve, hitting five double faults and winning only five of 18 points on her second serve. The first set featured six breaks of serve, with Klugman managing to hold only once. Despite an improved effort in the second set, an unfortunate bounce at the net led to a crucial break for Putintseva, who then secured the match in 70 minutes.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Clara Tauson advanced by defeating Australia's Kimberly Birrell 7-5, 2-6, while Tatjana Maria, the new Queen's champion, withdrew before her first-round match. In Berlin, Ons Jabeur, a two-time Wimbledon runner-up, utilized her lucky loser status to overcome Caroline Dolehide 7-6 (7-5), 6-1, progressing to the second round.

This match marks a significant learning experience for Klugman as she continues to develop her game on the professional stage. The tennis community will undoubtedly keep a close eye on her progress, anticipating her rise in the rankings.