Sarah Beth Grey embodies sheer guts and determination and the 26-year-old from Liverpool admits it is not confined to her approach on court, following a stirring fightback at Roehampton.
A wild card into Ladies' Qualifying, Grey rallied from a set and 3-5 down to overcome free swinging Australian Olivia Gadecki 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(7) in two hours and 42 minutes.
It was the first 10 point tie-break contested at 6-all in Wimbledon history and a first Grand Slam qualifying victory for the southpaw following heart surgery in February.
“I think (gutsy) sums me up as a person,” Grey said. “It was really close throughout, even though I was down in the scoreline. I didn't feel like I was too far away.
“If I could get a few good hits on her serve, which I did in that game luckily (at 3-5), then I felt like momentum shifted a bit my way and I just tried to carry that through.”
Grey admitted it had taken a good three to four months to work her way back into form following her operation, with momentum difficult to build.
She next meets Switzerland’s Lulu Sun after overcoming a gap of 115 ranking places to see off the Australian, who is No.181.
“The start of the year I had a bit of a health scare. I had to have a minor heart procedure with a heart rhythm problem,” she said.
“Luckily it was the LTA that found the issue with their medical team. I'm really grateful they were able to find that and able to resolve it fairly quickly, so this is like my return to the Tour, playing the whole grass season. It's great to be at home to get going again.”
Timea Babos, twice a Wimbledon doubles runner-up and a former world No.25 in singles, also posted a definitive victory in her post-injury push for a return to the main draw of a Grand Slam.
The Hungarian, who suffered a hip injury during her defeat by Anna Blinkova at The Championships last year, was a convincing 6-1, 6-1 winner against German Katharina Gerlach.
Her recovery and subsequent return to form since Wimbledon last year had not panned out as smoothly as she had envisaged and became a true test of patience.
“It was a special win because since Wimbledon last year, I didn't play any Grand Slams. I was injured here in the first round, main draw,” she said.
“Since then I wasn't able to compete at the highest level but I'm really happy to be back and start with the win, especially the way I was playing today. I was very happy with that.”
Following the pandemic and her injury lay-off, the 29-year-old said she had learnt much about herself, with ample time to reflect over the past two years.
Having competed exclusively at ITF level this season, the enjoyment had returned. “I never really played much in the qualifying of Grand Slams, so this is something kind of new for me,” she said ahead of a clash with former girls’ singles champion Daria Snigur.
“It's a good challenge and the level of tennis is really good. Everybody is playing so well.”
Belgian former world No.12 Yanina Wickmayer also relished a return to grass in her bid for a 13th Wimbledon main draw berth.
The 32-year-old posted her best result at the All England Club in 2011, when she fell to eventual champion Petra Kvitova in the fourth round.
“I've always loved Wimbledon. It's my favourite surface to play on and I don't know why, but Wimbledon always has something special,” Wickmayer said after her 6-4, 7-6(4) win over Austria's Julia Grabher, the No.13 seed.
“It's always nice to come back and it has a very special atmosphere.”
Thirteen years have elapsed since her breakthrough run to the US Open semi-finals, where she bowed out to Caroline Wozniacki.
“Apart from the fact I’m a mum now, it definitely seems like a really long time ago,” she said.
“Actually, my coach reminded me this morning that this will be my 13th Wimbledon. So, on one hand, yeah, it does feel like a long time ago but on the other hand I've grown so much and I've been so lucky to get so many experiences on tour.”
No.2 seed Coco Vandeweghe survived an almighty scare against British 16-year-old Ella McDonald to advance.
The former world No.9 and two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist saved a match point and let slip six straight of her own in the deciding tie-break to prevail 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(10-8) for a showdown with Latvian Daniela Vismane.
Vandeweghe was one of 12 American women through, while seven Australian women also progressed, including No.5 seed Madison Inglis and No.10 seed Astra Sharma.
