Except, Fery was not even aware The Princess was peering on and applauding. She sneaked in alongside Tim Henman and Debbie Jeavans, the chair of the All England Tennis Club, and this being on the outer courts, not too much fuss ensued.
“I didn’t know she was there,” Fery said. “ I guess if I’d known, it would have maybe made me a little tight. But it is an honour to play in front of her. If possible it makes me even more glad I won.”
Well, the Princess had actually gone by the time Fery completed the 5-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory, but it says plenty about her passion for the sport that she was prepared to visit Court 18 before an afternoon in the Royal Box. This would have been classed as Fery’s biggest win anyway, but it was bestowed with a royal footnote.
The crowd was inevitably ecstatic, enthused not only by some rare home success at these Championships and the unexpected and commendable appearance of a royal here on the outer courts – the Princess left midway through the second set – but by Fery fighting through a battle featuring a 6ft 4in giant with all the power and a 5ft 9in opponent with all the shots.
Probably due to the size difference and his suitability to grass, Virtanen came in as the favourite, despite currently being No 114 in the world with Fery 23 rungs better in the rankings.
But, as Virtanen pummelled down 16 aces, the outsider had the greater quality both with the ground stokes and in and around the net to guarantee himself at least £160,000, the biggest payday of his burgeoning career.
After such a bleak start to Wimbledon, the fans at last have a player to get behind. Fery felt obliged to wear earbuds in his first round as Damir Dzumhur repeatedly moaned to the umpire. But here he was glad to hear the roars.