Noppawan: First Thai Grand Slam Junior Champion

Noppawan Lertcheewakarn

Pro Ranking: 406 » Position Graph, Thailand World Guide

Noppawan Lertcheewakarn came back from a slow start to upset world junior No 1 Kristina Mladenovic 3-6 6-3 6-1 to win the junior Wimbledon on Saturday.

The Chiang Mai-born, 17, became the first Thai to win a Grand Slam singles trophy. Previously she collected two doubles titles from the 2008 junior US Open and this year’s French Open.

Noppawan, who ended the 2008 season as the top junior player, settled score over the French Open junior champion who easily beat her in two sets in a warm-up tournament on grass in Roehampton last week. She finally made amends at the All England Club losing the final to Laura Robson of Great Britain in the final a year ago.