 Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 04 Jul 2009 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 04 Jul 2009 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 04 Jul 2009 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 04 Jul 2009 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 04 Jul 2009 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 04 Jul 2009 |
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| 04 Jul 2009 - Wimbledon - Simon Cambers | |
| Leertcheewakarn wins girls junior title at Wimbledon |
Noppawan Lertcheewakarn made history for Thailand on Saturday when she beat world No 1 Kristina Mladenovic of France 36 63 61 to win the Wimbledon junior title.
The 17-year-old is the first Thai girl to win the event in its 63-year history and the first girl since Valerie Pitt in 1954 to win having been the runner-up in the previous year.
“It means everything,” she 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 Thai people, and I will get a wildcard for seniors next year so I am very happy to win today.”
Beaten by British 14-year-old Laura Robson in the final 12 months ago, No 4 seed Noppawan looked set for another disappointment when she was overpowered by Mladenovic in the first set as the No 1 seed banged down five aces, including one at 122mph.
The 16-year-old Mladenovic, who won the French Open junior title last month, broke Noppawan to lead 2-0, only to immediately drop her own serve. She then had to save four break points in the fifth game but a double-fault and a missed backhand from Noppawan handed Mladenovic a 5-3 lead and she served out for the set with her fifth ace.
Mladenovic was ripping into Noppawan’s serve and when she broke to lead 2-1 in the second set, it looked as if she would ease away to victory. But Noppawan broke back immediately and then broke again in the eighth game to lead 5-3, before serving out for the set.
All of a sudden, Mladenovic’s game disintegrated and Noppawan made it seven games in a row as she charged ahead 4-0. Mladenovic had to fight back the tears as she held serve to trail 4-1 and then called the trainer because of an injury to her right knee, that had been taped from the start.
The delay could have affected Noppawan’s concentration but she held her nerve and after holding serve for 5-1, she clinched victory when Mladenovic netted a backhand.
Noppawan said she was now looking forward to the Wimbledon Ball and revealed she had one special dance partner in mind.
“I hope Federer wins tomorrow so I can be there. Last year, (the winner) was very far away, but now I have won, maybe I will get to dance with him.”
Mladenovic admitted that her knee injury was perhaps the difference between vicrtory and defeat, but did not want to use it as an excuse.
“Noppawan was better than me today, 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.
Mladenovic said she would not beat herself up about the defeat and move on to the US Open juniors in September.
“Of course I’m disappointed today 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.”
While Noppawan joins a list of winners that include recent Wimbledon champions in Martina Hingis and Amelie Mauresmo, Mladenovic can console herself with the fact that she joins a distinguished list of runners-up.
Martina Navratilova, Kim Clijsters, Dinara Safina, Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic were all beaten in the final.
Noppawan and Mladenovic will be facing each other again on Sunday in the girls' doubles final with an added incentive - whichever girl wins will be the junior No 1.
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