South Africa’s Lloyd Harris is into the second round at Wimbledon after a thrilling opening round victory over American teenager Alex Michelsen on Monday.
Harris prevailed 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 7-6 (11/9).
The match, which took place on Court 9, took three hours and 31 minutes to complete.
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The pair had never faced each other before at ATP tour level.
Harris is the only South African – male or female – in singles action at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in 2024.
Harris will now take on the winner of the clash between American 14th seed Ben Shelton and Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci in the second round.
Handsome pay day awaits Lloyd Harris
Last week, Harris came through three rounds of qualifying to secure his spot in the men’s singles main draw for the tournament.
He beat Italy’s Andrea Vavassori 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of qualifying, then proved too strong for Britain’s George Loffhagen, winning 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5) in the second round.
The 27-year-old Harris then beat France’s Hugo Grenier 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) to seal his qualification.
He is guaranteed a handsome pay cheque at Wimbledon, no matter how far he progresses.
It’s already been a lucrative few days for Harris who picked up £40 000 (R935 000) for progressing through the qualifying rounds.
Should he lose his second round match in the tournament itself, the lanky Capetonian is guaranteed another £93 000 (R2.16 million).
Harris’s best performance to date on the hallowed grass courts at Wimbledon came in 2021 when he reached the second round.
The South African website will keep readers updated in free-to-read articles as to Harris’s progress at the tournament.
