There’s an old adage about the secret to great acting… Know your lines, and don’t bump into the furniture.

When Ons Jabeur first broke Venus Williams’ serve in the opening set of their second round encounter, she promptly collided with the television camera mounted on the umpire’s chair as she walked back to her seat for the changeover, and then gave the break right back.

But she didn’t fluff her lines after that, taking command of the No.1 Court stage with a 7-5, 6-0 win to become the first Arab woman ever to reach the third round at Wimbledon.

“Honestly I was so nervous,” smiled the No.21 seed to the applause of the crowd. “It’s the first time I’ve played a legend and not everyone was with me but it was a great game. My slices and drop shots go really well with this surface. I enjoy playing a lot here – I can dive any time, which is great for me. I feel a natural energy here. It’s amazing to be here. I love being in England and I hope I can continue my journey.”

But the Spaniard, too, may need all the help she can get. Jabeur’s second round performance was informed by her tournament win just days ago on the grass of Birmingham, and by a season notable for its sheer consistency.

Williams, at 41, is still a wonder of fitness and power, but only 24 hours before this match she required two-and-a-half hours’ exertion to come through her first round contest.

That was her 90th match win at Wimbledon, but she was giving 15 years to Jabeur, whose own first round on Tuesday was briskly completed for the loss of three games.

Besides, this was Jabeur’s 31st victory of the season, whereas Williams’ last win before Wimbledon was at the Australian Open in February. More crucially still, it is almost two years since the legend was last able to put together back-to-back wins. Winning is a habit. In 2021, Jabeur has it and Williams does not. Now ranked 111, the American was a wild card into the main draw here.

The opening game on her serve promised a mighty tussle, lasting 12 minutes and offering Jabeur five – yes, five – chances to break right there. But while Williams is an old hand on the Wimbledon show courts, this was a debut appearance for Jabeur on No.1 Court, and initially it was not a nerveless display.

In these early skirmishes, Venus darted about with the speed of many a youngster – and she needed to, as time and again Jabeur delivered her favourite disguised drop shot, not only in mid-rally but even on the return of Williams’ serve.

At 3-3 the netcord helped Jabeur towards the break, but next game it was Venus making mincemeat of the new balls with some scorching returns to level. When she held for 5-4, the match promised much – but instead it ended right there. Jabeur snapped off ten games, and long before the handshake it was apparent that if Venus was to reach 91 Wimbledon match wins, it would not be at the 2021 Championships.

Instead, one of the Club’s premier stages got its first look at why Jabeur is a contender here. It was her debut show court appearance, but it will not be her last.

Afterwards, Venus revealed that she found it unbearable to see her younger sister Serena’s enforced withdrawal from Wimbledon on Tuesday, after slipping in her first round match.

“I absolutely couldn't watch,” she said. “It was too much. I know exactly what that feels like when all your faculties are taken away, things you work hard for and earn, and suddenly life happens. I think she's doing the best you can when you get hurt. It's awful. It sucks.”

She could not say what Serena’s plans are for Wimbledon 2022, but she knows her own.

“Of course I want to come back, who wouldn’t?” said Venus. “When it’s my last Wimbledon, I’ll let you know. I’ll give you a little whisper in your ear.”