It has taken 24 years, but a British player has finally won a singles' title at Wimbledon. Yesterday, at just 14 years old, Laura Robson won a thrilling three-set match in the final of the girls' tournament, beating Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand.
More than 11,000 fans on Court Number One rose to their feet and cheered the 14-year-old, who is the first British singles' champion at the All-England Club since Annabel Croft won the same competition in 1984.
Robson, who lives just five minutes' walk from the ground, produced thumping passing shots and regular 100mph serves to beat her opponent, who is two years her senior, 6-3 3-6 6-1.
As the left-hander stepped up to serve for the match, the cries of "come on Laura" built into a deafening cacophony more usually heard at football grounds than on the genteel lawns of SW19.
Beaming from ear to ear, Robson received her trophy from former Wimbledon champion Ann Jones before kissing it and raising it aloft for the photographers.
The bookmakers have already slashed the odds on her being crowned Wimbledon Ladies' Champion before 2020. Ladbrokes quoted her at 6/1 and William Hill cut her odds from 50/1 to 20/1.
After the match, Robson's mother Kathy - a former professional basketball player - said she is still expected to do her chores around the house despite her remarkable achievement.
"She's just a member of the family," she said. "She's just a 14-year-old girl - the jobs she does round the house still go on."
She said she would go out to dinner to celebrate. Asked if Laura would come, she joked: "If she wants to. She's 14, she doesn't want to be seen with her family.
"We'll probably just go to the local Pizza Hut."
Robson does not receive any prize money for her victory, but will be given a wildcard to play in next year's senior tournament at Wimbledon.
She was born in Australia and moved to the UK aged six, and her performance yesterday was a mix of antipodean grit and the kind of wobbles British tennis fans are all too familiar with.
After winning the first set with ease, she faltered badly and lost the second, repeatedly screaming at herself and tossing her racket in the air in frustration.
But she recovered her composure to take the final set in blustery conditions and seal victory in an hour and 34 minutes.
Afterwards, she admitted being a little daunted by walking out onto the packed show court.
"It was so good as all the crowd were behind me and it was an overwhelming experience," she said.
"I didn't feel relaxed and thought I was going to be sick when I walked on court because there were so many people watching.
"In the second set I went a bit mad but I got it back together and that is how I won, I think."
Britain's number one and Wimbledon quarter-finalist Andy Murray paid tribute to Laura's triumph.
"To win a junior grand slam at 14 is really impressive.
"I watched the match on TV and though she panicked a bit in the second set, Laura finished off really strongly and confidently," he said.
"It's a great achievement and she's a very special player, and that's great for British tennis hopes."
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