It is said that good things come to those who wait and for Heather Watson, a joyous winner at Wimbledon on Friday, a breakthrough success in her favourite event meant the world.
An English favourite from her debut at Wimbledon in 2010, Watson reached the second week of the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament for the first time with a splendid performance.
The 30-year-old held her nerve when challenged at various stages of the first set by Kaja Juvan and then played with panache throughout the second when progressing 7-6(8), 6-2.
On making a superb forehand drop-shot volley to close out the match, Watson raised her arms in triumph to the sky as she soaked in the adulation of an adoring crowd.
In the stands, her mother hugged other members of her players' box, overwhelmed with a breakthrough that is tens of thousands of forehands and backhands in the making.
English fans waved Union Jacks around the grandstands as Watson returned to the court and knelt on it in delight before looking purposefully towards her friends and family.
She thanked them afterwards for “pushing me through, being with me through thick and thin” in a speech in which she also praised the crowd for their passionate support.
The volume of their voices grew louder as Juvan did her best to launch a spirited comeback from a 5-0 deficit in the second set, but Watson held her nerve.
“Firstly, it would not be me if there was not a bit of drama at the end,” Watson said.
“Wow. What an atmosphere. I mean, you guys are what got me over the line at the end.”
She will now play Jule Niemeier, a 22-year-old from Germany competing in just her second Grand Slam and maiden Wimbledon, for a spot in the quarter-finals.
It would not be me if there was not a bit of drama at the end. Wow. What an atmosphere. You guys are what got me over the line at the end
The clash occurs on a historic day for Wimbledon with the match scheduled for the first time on Sunday, and it shapes up as a significant opportunity for the local star.
A talented performer, Watson possesses a classy all-court game and always appeared well-suited to succeeding on grass courts given her skills at the net.
It is no surprise that her best results in Grand Slams have occurred at Wimbledon, where she won the mixed doubles in 2016 with Henri Kontinen.
At times, she has appealed as world-beater, only to fall narrowly shy of toppling genuine superstars.
It is now seven years since Watson walked off Wimbledon’s Centre Court after giving Serena Williams the mightiest of scares in a sterling third round encounter.
Then 23, the Guernsey-born right-hander served for the match against the American legend, only for Williams to rally late in the encounter 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.
Watson and Williams were both warmly applauded when walking off the most prestigious court in tennis. But there was an understandable look of disappointment on the face of Watson as she pondered what might have been against the greatest player in the Open era.
Five years ago she also pushed Victoria Azarenka, a former world No.1 and dual-Australian Open champion, to the brink in a clash of the highest quality at the same stage of the event.
A decade ago, when only a few months out of her teens, she was beaten in the third round by Agnieszka Radwanska, who went on to reach the final that year.
Juvan, who enjoyed an encouraging Wimbledon and certainly pushed the local favourite in an opening set that was as entertaining as it was even, is a talented player.
After losing her way early in the second set, she showed resilience to challenge Watson in a fightback that had the No.1 Court crowd on edge.
But she is yet to perform anywhere near the level achieved by the other rivals Watson had faced when reaching the third round at Wimbledon.
The opportunity was there to be taken and the English star seized it with some beautiful play at the baseline and also at the net, where her reflexes and hands were outstanding.
Asked what it meant to finally leap the third round hurdle, Watson responded by raising her arms triumphantly in the air again before clapping with glee.
“It means everything,” she said, before breaking into a smile of pure joy.
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