Tatjana Maria enjoyed her next goosebump coup with her eyes closed, Jule Niemeier threw her bat on the floor in disbelief.
With enthusiastic performances, the two German tennis surprises continued their sensational runs at the grass classic in Wimbledon and are now meeting in the quarter-finals of the generations.
With a great energy performance, the mother of two, Maria, at the age of 34, defeated number twelve seeded Jelena Ostapenko 5:7, 7:5, 7:5.
Less than 30 minutes later, the 22-year-old Niemeier celebrated her sovereign 6: 2, 6: 4 on Center Court against the British local hero Heather Watson.
Maria and Niemeier collect the equivalent of 360,000 euros each for their success.
In all of her previous career, Niemeier had not earned that much overall.
"I'm sorry I had to throw a Brit out today," she said with a Wimbledon towel draped over her shoulders.
"I'm super proud of myself."
"Oh my God.
I have no words for this incredible audience," said Maria overwhelmed and thanked for the support.
"I said to myself: They believe in me, so I believe in me too." In the second set she fended off two match points and then after 2:07 hours got the greatest success of her career.
Only 15 months after the birth of her second daughter Cecilia, she is in the top eight in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in her career.
"It makes me so proud to be a mother.
It's the best thing in the world," she said in her acceptance speech.
"I love my two children."
Thanks to the success, the two German players also get a place in Wimbledon's elite "Last 8 Club", which includes all individual quarter-finalists.
Among other things, you will receive lifetime tickets for the most prestigious tournament in the world.
Before the game, numerous former champions such as Roger Federer, Stefan Edberg, Chris Evert and Angelique Kerber were on the pitch at the 100-year celebration of Center Court.
"I didn't want to watch the show because I was pretty nervous," she said.
After a balanced initial phase, the Dortmund player won one of the most spectacular points of the entire tournament.
After a successful backhand from running back after a lob, Dortmund threw both arms up, the point to 2:2 also inspired legends like Billie Jean King and Björn Borg in the honorary stand.
With her strong serve, fast forehand and variable game, the world number 97 dominated.
the happening.
With a fine forehand stop, she secured the first set after just 27 minutes.
The second round was tighter, but Niemeier always kept his cool and used the third match point.
Maria had a lot more trouble.
The former French Open winner Ostapenko did not get along with Maria's unorthodox style of play at the beginning.
The German stayed in the points for a long time with high running intensity, played the balls with an unpleasant backspin, Ostapenko often made a mistake.
Maria quickly led 3-1, but slowly the Latvian (25) dosed her usual aggressive pace better and won three games in a row.
Both players stabilized on their own serve.
Maria made a double mistake when the score was 5:6 and then Ostapenko got the first set after 39 minutes with a whipping forehand in the corner.
"I know it's a tough opponent, she plays the balls very, very fast," Maria analyzed her opponent before the game.
The 34-year-old had already been able to analyze this closely during her double defeat at Wimbledon, and as usual she was tactically adjusted to the singles by her husband and trainer Charles-Edouard.
At the beginning of the second set, Ostapenko was almost unstoppable and led 3-0.
But just like in her exhausting second-round win against Romanian Sorana Cirstea, Maria never gave up, fought back and took the serve from Ostapenko to make it 3:4.
When the score was 4:5, Maria fended off the first two match balls with her forehand and a return error from her opponent.
Ostapenko, who often has problems with consistency, got out of step.
With a loud scream, Maria celebrated the break to 6: 5, her husband cheered with both fists in the stands.
A little later she made the win of the second set perfect with zero.
The decisive passage became a test of nerves.
Ostapenko started better again, but vacillated between the extremes.
Maria came back again.
With a score of 5:4 and a break before, she served to win the match, Ostapenko equalized and tapped his forehead.
Maria made the break again and finally got to celebrate.