Cape Town’s own Lloyd Harris gave Wimbledon legend Roger Federer a big scare at the All England Lawn Club on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old former Stellenberg High scholar, ranked 86th in the world, stepped up to the plate when asked to bat against his idol in the first round.
Before the match started, Harris said: “I’ve been watching him all my life.
“It was one of my best experiences when I was 10 years old my parents flew me over here to watch some tennis and my first match I got to see was him and [Marat] Safin on Centre Court.
“It was just mind-blowing for me watching these guys go about
“It’s just something special for me.”
The pursuit of nine begins...
Bidding to become the second player in history to win nine #Wimbledon titles, @rogerfederer books his ticket into the second round by beating Lloyd Harris pic.twitter.com/RzAJ5MYGfJ
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2019
And he produced something special in his first ever set at Wimbledon, winning 6-3 inside 30 minutes.
But then the experienced Federer found his rhythm and won the second set 6-1 and completed his comeback with a 6-2 and 6-2 scoreline in the third and fourth sets.
While Harris couldn’t provide a fairytale story in the men’s first round, it doesn’t mean Wimbledon hasn’t provided one to date.
"She [Venus Williams] said congratulations."
"I told her thank you for everything that you did. I wouldn’t be here without you. I always wanted to tell her that."
- @CocoGauff #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/lGUYiGnq3Q
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2019
And it comes in the form of 15-year-old Cori Gauff, who became the youngest player at the female event on Monday.
She crowned that moment by stunning Venus Williams 6-4 and 6-4.