On a day when the weather produced so much frustration for so many of the competitors, Belinda Bencic was delighted to have “a dream come true” by appearing and winning on her Centre Court debut.
Under the roof, and revelling in the opportunity, the 19-year-old Swiss crushed Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 6-2, 6-3 in a match which started on No.3 Court.
It was a repeat of the win Bencic clocked up against the same opponent at the same stage of The Championships a year ago, except that this time she needed only two sets rather than the three of 2015.
When Roger Federer completed his expected straight-sets win over Marcus Willis on Centre it was still only just after 6pm and realising the bleak prospects on the uncovered court, the highly promising No.7 seed was given the chance to make her first appearance on the world’s most famous court.
“When I was told I had goose bumps all over my body,” she smiled afterwards. “The supervisor came to me and told me I was going to play Centre Court. Sorry for my opponent, but I was really happy.
“I feel this is going to be my court hopefully soon.”
Though nervousness would have been understandable, Bencic played carefree tennis, and said, “I was totally focused. I can’t explain why, I just felt so comfortable”.
Perhaps that was because this highly talented teenager seems destined to make many appearances on the famous old arena, as did the lady who is acting as her part-time coach and advisor, Martina Hingis.
Having grown up watching both Hingis and Federer forge their paths as Wimbledon champions on this very court, Bencic has similar aspirations.
“Of course. I mean, it's basically Roger's court,” she beamed. “I played so well on it. It didn't surprise me. I expected it with the roof, especially. It suits my game perfectly so theoretically I should play great [on Centre].”
Despite defeat in the first match in defence of her title at Eastbourne recently and having missed much of the clay court season with a back injury, Bencic played impressively, hitting winners from her trademark crouching position and running Pironkova from side to side.
“That felt great. I mean, of course I didn't have a lot of match practice before,” Bencic said. “I didn't play on clay so much, but I always feel good on grass and I always feel good here.
“I was confident that at some point my game will all come together, and that was the case today.”
Pironkova, with her right shoulder strapped, could offer little after taking the opening game, being broken twice as Bencic embarked on a run of five straight games, taking the opening set in 35 minutes and winning 86 per cent of her first serves.
The Bulgarian fell 5-2 behind in the second set before mounting a belated challenge. Bencic served for the match at that stage but missed three match points and was broken.
Back she bounced, however, to break Pironkova for the fifth time; the Bulgarian projecting a tame forehand into the net when she faced a fourth match point.
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