Cori 'Coco' Gauff said she was 'living her dream' after progressing through to the second round at Wimbledon in truly stunning fashion.
Aged just 15, the youngest player to come through qualifying in the Open era was facing one of her idols on Monday in the form of Venus Williams - a five-time SW19 singles champion 24 years her senior.
Gauff defied that sizable age gap in a remarkable straight-sets upset, remaining admirably composed to win her first main draw contest at a Grand Slam tournament 6-4, 6-4.
The teenager burst into tears after beating an opponent whom she so admires.
"It's the first time I have ever cried after winning a match, I don't know how to explain how I feel," Gauff told the BBC.
"I definitely had to tell myself to stay calm, I had to remind myself that the lines are the same lines, the courts are the same size and after every point I told myself 'stay calm'."
Gauff is said to have been inspired to take up tennis by Venus and Serena Williams and she exchanged a few emotional words at the net with the former following her win on No. 1 Court.
"She told me congratulations and keep going, she said good luck and I told her thanks for everything she did," Gauff said.
In Pictures | Wimbledon 2019
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her - I told her she was so inspiring and I've always wanted to tell her that but I've never had the guts to before.
"My parents will be super happy, my dad was jumping up every time I won a point. I'm so happy they spent all their time on me and my brothers and making sure we're successful.
"I never thought this would happen. I'm literally living my dream right now."
A disappointed Venus said of Gauff's potential: "I think the sky's the limit, it really is."
