"It's true that it's always difficult to confirm after a big match like that. I prepared this match well with Sam (Sumyk) and Nathalie (Tauziat, his two coaches), I got into it well and it worked. went well", explained the Frenchwoman after the match.

She assured that her victory against the American, winner of 23 Grand Slam titles, including 7 times at Wimbledon, had "changed nothing" for her.

"I'm in my bubble and I play my tennis," she said.

But she had to fight against the consequences of more than 3 hours of play and in particular a painful thigh which forced her to retire on Wednesday in doubles.

"I was really not well at all yesterday (Wednesday), I had trouble climbing stairs, I had really quite huge pain in my thigh and I saw the WTA physios who told me not to play the double because it could make it worse," she said.

"I took anti-inflammatories to make it go but, in my head, I thought it was a chance to be able to play this second round and to be able to go to the third round of a Grand Slam".

To do this, she knew how to be solid in a very balanced match which really came down to details.

Despite a sometimes capricious wind, Tan recorded more winning points and fewer unforced errors than his opponent and this little extra quality allowed him to dominate the seeded N.32.

"I played it in March and took it 6-2, 6-2, so I thought it was going to be a really tough game today and I feel like since March I have evolved a little bit“, she rejoiced.

The world 115th, who is stepping onto the London turf for the first time in her career, will have a third round which may not seem as high as expected, as last year's runner-up Karolina Pliskova, world 7th, lost against Britain's Katie Boulter.

If Boulter evolves in the same waters in the WTA ranking (118th) as Tan, she will have the unconditional support of the public.

Harmony Tan too strong for Sara Sorribes Tormo in the second round at Wimbledon, June 30, 2022. Glyn KIRK AFP

"Katie Boulter is a very good player, especially on grass. There will be a lot of fans for her, we will play on a big court for sure, so it will be a difficult match, as always, but I will try to prepare it well“, she indicated, without putting any pressure on herself.

"I came to Wimbledon with no real grass court experience so I wasn't expecting much. When I saw the first round draw I thought 'well I hope I don't not be ridiculous +. In any case I surprise myself at the moment“, she concluded.

© 2022 AFP