HEATHER WATSON has made a Grand Slam last 16 for the first time after ousting Slovenian Kaja Juvan.
The Brit, 30, and in her 12th Wimbledon, took advantage of the Court One stage-fright of her opponent to record a 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 triumph.
But Watson had to come through her own mini-crisis after seemingly being on the verge of a cataclysmic collapse.
After edging a tight, mistake-filled tie-break, Watson watched her opponent fall apart as she raced through the second set.
It brought whoops of joy to the courtside fans and a massive smile from Watson, who gave further evidence that British women’s tennis does not stop at Emma Raducanu.
Watson said: “It wouldn’t be me if there wasn’t a bit of drama at the end.
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“I wasn’t that nervous because she played her best tennis at that stage but I’m so happy.”
The smiles continued as Watson addressed the crowd, saying: “Wow – what an atmosphere – there is nowhere quite like it.
“You guys helped me over the line. It means everything to me.
“Playing here at home, the atmosphere is everything. Please can all of you come back for my fourth round?”
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Watson recovered from losing her serve in the seventh game by breaking back immediately before edging a nerve-ridden tie-break to nudge in front in a minute short of an hour.
Both players were inhibited by the situation, with only five of the 14 points won on serve and it was fitting that Juvan double faulted on what was Watson’s fourth set point.
The Slovenian, who had started with a flurry of power groundstrokes, was now a bag of anxiety, two more errors handing Watson a break to open the second set.
When Watson broke again, after a beauty down the line followed by a forced long backhand, Juvan looked completely beaten, all her early energy drained.
The Slovenian’s freefall continued, Watson winning 11 points in a row to take her to the verge of victory, only to choke and allow a break.
Juvan then had FOUR break points on Watson’s next service game but was unable to capitalise.
And a drop volley on her first match point saw the Brit home.
KILLER SCHEDULE
On Thursday, Watson had accused Wimbledon bosses of "trying to kill her" amid a gruelling schedule.
The Brit was forced to play until 11pm on Monday night before her first-round match against Tamara Korpatsch was suspended as it hit the curfew.
Watson secured a three-set win on Tuesday before being given a Wednesday night match against Wang Qiang – and was again forced to finish it off the next day due to bad light.
Watson told the BBC: "Honestly I'm not coping very well any more.
"I got less than four hours sleep last night and they've scheduled me tonight not before 6pm for doubles.
"I think they're trying to kill me here to be honest."
Regardless, Watson made it onto No1 Court and put on a sensational display to win.
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Now she'll have to worry about the schedule for a few more days at least with her fourth-round match against Jule Niemeier to come on Sunday.
She also plays with Harriet Dart – who raged at the umpire following her second-round singles defeat – in the Ladies' Doubles later on Friday, with her Mixed Doubles match alongside Ken Skupski to come.
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