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KATIE BOULTER crashed out to lucky loser Solana Sierra – and could not even blame misfortune on it.

The British No2 had a shocker for the majority of her 1hr53mins out on a half-empty Court No1, save for an impressive first-set fightback.

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Katie Boulter was out of sorts against her lucky loser opponent[/caption]

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Solana Sierra produced a brilliant performance on No1 Court[/caption]

That revival had seen Boulter go from 5-2 down to win 7-6, thanks to a tie-break.

And from then the supporters who had turned up were half-expecting a comfortable victory for the Leicester-born London resident.

But it did not turn out that way as an inspired Sierra capitalised on Boulter’s catalogue of errors to come through 6-7 6-2 6-1.

The Argentine, 21, had lost in qualifying and was only in the SW19 main draw after being randomly selected to replace an injured player.

She certainly made the most of it and was much the better, more consistent, of the two players, setting up a third-round tie with Spaniard Cristina Busca.

As for Boulter, she will look back ruefully on a complacent display which saw her lay down 14 double faults and 36 unforced errors.

It was chalk and cheese compared to her impressive victory in the first round over No9 seed Paula Badosa, which had shown what she is capable of on her day.

But the world No43 was nowhere near at that level against a much-lower ranked opponent in this second round, and paid for it dearly.

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Sierra revealed after her victory that she has had to move the house in which she is staying during the championships several times already because she did not expect to be here this long.

And now she and her mother, who is staying with her, will have to switch residences again given she is into round three.

The Argentine explained: “I lost in the third round of qualies so we already changed three times the apartment and now we are going to change again! 

“But we said it’s a good problem. 

“It feels amazing. I knew it was a really tough match, Katie is an amazing player, so I just tried to focus on myself and enjoy this moment. It’s a dream to play here.”

CARLOS ALCARAZ sent a classy message to the family of the unwell fan he helped at Wimbledon.

The defending champion raced into action when he noticed a supporter had been taken ill during his first-round match on Centre Court.

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Carlos Alcaraz took water for a fan taken ill on Centre Court[/caption]

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The incident took place in the fifth set of his win over Fabio Fognini[/caption]

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The family sent the Spaniard a message to say thank you – and he replied[/caption]

The incident happened during the fifth set against Fabio Fognini as temperatures far exceeded 30C.

Alcaraz, 22, dashed to his bag and grabbed a bottle of water before running over to hand it to the crowd to take to the stricken spectator.

A 15-minute delay followed as she was given medical treatment.

And her daughter Eluned took to X to thank Alcaraz for his speedy service.

She wrote: “Thank you @carlosalcaraz for the concern shown to my mum today who was taken ill during your tennis match at Centre Court @Wimbledon today.

“Unlikely you’ll see this message but I can try! Thank you.”

Incredibly, though, despite his media commitments, practice and looking to secure a hat-trick of Wimbledon crowns, Alcaraz made time to send a personal reply.

The humble world No2 Spaniard typed: “You’re very welcome, it was nothing!

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“I hope your mum is doing well.

“Send her a kiss from me and take good care of me.”

Wimbledon 2025 LIVE – follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19

Alcaraz followed up his first-round win by beating Brit world No733 Ollie Tarvet 6-1 6-4 6-4 on Centre Court.

The Brit student was cheered on by his girlfriend Helaena as he did himself proud during the straight-sets defeat to cap off a brilliant SW19.

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Alcaraz beat Ollie Tarvet in straight sets to book his spot in round three[/caption]

A HOST of Irish celebrities have attended Wimbledon in style this week.

Boyzone star Ronan Keating was among the famous Irish faces spotted at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club

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voguewilliams/Instagram

Getty Images - Getty

The singer attended the tournament alongside his wife Storm, who stunned a red silk halter neck top paired with a pale pink skirt.

The TV presenter finished her outfit with gold accessories and a pair of stylish sunglasses

The Australian native shared some snaps to her Instagram of the pair enjoying the event.

She wrote in the caption: “Arrived back in London and were honoured to attend one of the most iconic sporting events of this country #Wimbledon in their Royal Box.

“The sun was shining, the courts were pristine and of course the play was outstanding. Thank you @wimbledon for inviting us along, truly a memorable day that we’ll never forget. Nor will we forget those #strawberryandcream.”

Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally also glammed up to attend the star-studded annual event.

The podcast duo posed for a snap at the tournament to mark the occasion.

Vogue looked stunning in a flowing white maxi dress, while Joanne turned heads in a black dress and chunky platform sandals.

Captioning a series of snaps with her pal, Vogue wrote: “A ball was had! Wimbledon, we loved you. Thank you @hellomag @emirates for having us… we’ll be back, essentially inviting ourselves for next year.”

Irish actor Chris O’Dowd also enjoyed the day out alongside his wife Dawn O’Porter.

The happy couple both opted for bright, colourful looks with Chris sporting a pair of navy shorts, a sage green blazer and a lemon print shirt.

Meanwhile, Dawn looked stunning in a pink, white and green dress which she paired with a green handbag and sunglasses.

Podcaster Joanne McNally recently looked forward to attending a huge music festival with pals but was left heartbroken after she was “robbed”.

The comedian used a private concierge to buy her Glastonbury tickets – but they never materialised.

TICKET SCAM

Joanne’s mystery seller blocked her phone number and left herself and 50 other music fans furious.

The Dubliner explained: “He is gone. The money is gone. There is no ticket. We were robbed. And obviously it wasn’t cheap because it was Glastonbury and it’s a once in a lifetime experience.”

Joanne had been due to go to Glastonbury with her close friend, content creator Rossi Lewis, who headed to a property he believed was registered to Joanne’s ticket scammer.

Joanne later explained what Rossi found when her got to the house: “Apparently, he listed this concierge company to his parents’ address,” she said.

Rossi has since claimed the man in question has called him to apologise for the scam, which has left Joanne seriously out of pocket.

And after a rocky few hours, Joanne managed to bag herself another golden ticket.

A LOVE Island star ‘branded a villa boy a p***y and stormed off’ in a tense row.

Viewers have seen plenty of drama in the ITV2 dating show’s latest series.

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Toni was left unimpressed with her villa man Harrison[/caption]

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He admitted to having snogged fellow Islander Helena[/caption]

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After a few choice words, Toni stormed off[/caption]

Things turn tense between US star Toni Laites and her villa man Harrison Solomon in tonight’s episode.

It comes as Harrison admits to having snogged fellow Islander Helena.

With Toni having been on a date with new bombshell Ryan, she asked Harrison what he’d been up to all day.

The footballer shared: “I spoke with Helena. We had a little chat. And we had, like, one kiss.”

Rolling her eyes, Toni asked why Harrison never kissed Helena in front of her.

He replied: “Because… that’s mad, that’s so awkward.”

Toni shot back: “Because you’re a p***y. Grow a pair of balls and do it in front of my face.”

After branding her love interest “sneaky and weird”, she stormed off leaving Harrison sitting alone.

When Harrison arrived as a bombshell, he went on dates with both Toni and Malisha.

Whoever he picked would return to the villa with him, while the other girl would be dumped.

He chose Toni, with the pair having discovered similarities during their date.

It comes as The Sun revealed two Islanders are set to be dumped in the latest brutal vote.

This savage twist follows the arrival of Bilikis Azeez and Ryan Bannister to the villa.

The Sun is keeping schtum on how the vote plays out – and who is sent packing – but the action will play out on tonight’s show.

A source said: “Execs continue to throw twists and turns into the series and no one saw this one coming.

“The cast were reeling after this shock move and one ousted Islander in particular will be much missed.”

Last week, Remell Mullins and Megan Forte Clarke were sent packing in a double dumping.

Manchester beauty Sophie Lee was first to be dumped this series – following a brutal opening twist.

Love Island airs on ITV2 and ITVX.

Shutterstock Editorial

Bombshell Harrison picked Toni when he first arrived on the show[/caption]

THIS is the astonishing moment a pair of orcas was spotted kissing – with tongues – for the first time ever in the wild.

The killer smooch was caught on camera by scientists during a snorkelling trip in northern Norway.

Javier Almunia, et al

Two orcas (also known as killer whales) were spotted kissing in northern Norway[/caption]

Javier Almunia, et al

One orca extends its tongue as the other gently nibbles it[/caption]

Javier Almunia, et al

The interaction lasted nearly two minutes[/caption]

The heart-warming interaction between the two orcas – also known as killer whales – took place in the dramatic Kvænangen fjords, about 68 miles northeast of Tromsø.

In the nearly two-minute-long video, the orcas are seen engaging in three separate “kissing” episodes, lasting 10, 26 and 18 seconds each.

During these intimate moments, one orca extends its tongue while the other appears to gently mouth or nibble it.

After the final “kiss”, the highly intelligent mammals part ways and swim off in opposite directions.

In the paper published in the journal Oceans, researchers describe the two adult orcas as engaging in “repeated episodes of gentle, face-to-face oral contact”.

The snorkellers floated quietly and horizontally in the water – careful not to disturb the orcas – and filmed the interaction on a GoPro.

Scientists call this tactile interaction “tongue-nibbling”.

Study author Dr Javier Almunia told Live Science that “tongue-nibbling is exceptionally rare”, explaining that, until now, this behaviour had only been seen in orcas in human care.

While tongue-nibbling has not been recorded in other species, similar mouth-to-mouth contact has been spotted in belugas, according to Dr Almunia.

He added: “This behaviour appears to serve affiliative purposes and may play a role in reinforcing social bonds or resolving conflicts, akin to grooming or reconciliation behaviours in other highly social species.”

Mouth-to-mouth contact in orcas was previously recorded in 2013 at Loro Parque, a zoo on Tenerife.

During that observation, “one individual protruded its tongue while the other made gentle nibbling movements,” the study authors, Dr Almunia and colleagues, explain.

The zoo-keepers reported that tongue-nibbling behaviour had been noted in four individual orcas at the park.

Mouth-to-mouth contact was first documented in captive orcas in a 1978 study by Paul Spong and Ingrid Visser, who suggested it plays a role in maintaining social cohesion.

It comes as two pals on a fishing trip spotted what appeared to be a pod of killer whales in the Channel.

David Hilton, 64, and Paul Bradshaw, 61, were angling off the South Coast when they saw several large creatures breaching the surface.

They appeared to be hunting dolphins in busy international shipping lanes, just five miles south of Plymouth, Devon.

Orcas are found in oceans all over the world, but they are most commonly seen in the Pacific Northwest (US and Canada), Norway, Iceland and the Antarctic water.

But sightings in the Channel are rare.

The Channel is not a typical habitat for orcas as it is shallow and heavily trafficked.

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Sightings of orcas in the Channel are rare[/caption]

A WOMAN in her 40s has been assaulted and raped outside a city centre ice rink, with a 33-year-old man “known to her” arrested.

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after the heinous incident, with the victim being supported by specifically trained officers.

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A woman in her forties was assaulted and raped by a man known to her outside the Oxford Ice Rink[/caption]

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Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses[/caption]

A woman in her forties was assaulted and raped by a man known to her outside the Oxford Ice Rink around 10.30pm on Monday, police say.

Cops have arrested a 33-year-old man from Oxford on suspicion of rape.

He currently remains in custody, according to Thames Valley Police.

The force have also urged a specific witness who disturbed the assault to come forward to speak to them.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Marisa Chamberlain, based at Oxford police station, said: “We are carrying out a thorough investigation following this concerning incident.

“An arrest has been made and we are supporting the victim.

“We are asking anyone who may have seen anything around 10.30pm outside the Oxford Ice Rink, or if anyone has CCTV we would ask them to check if it shows anything that may assist our enquiries. You can send material to us directly via this dedicated online portal.

“If anyone has information they can call 101, quoting reference 43250328032, or they can add details to on our online reporting form.

“If you don’t want to speak directly with police, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

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Cops have arrested a 33-year-old man from Oxford on suspicion of rape[/caption]

MANY people love taking their kids to Center Parcs for a holiday – but it can be rather pricey at peak times.

However, one savvy mum has revealed how she found a “Center Parcs” alternative for just £74.50 a night – and it comes with heaps of perks.

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She said her kids ate free in the Coast and Country restaurant on site[/caption]

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The pool area has numerous sun loungers and an adults-only hour[/caption]

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Nicole recommended the Wild Rose Holiday Park, near to the Lake District[/caption]

Mum Nicole, who posts under @nicoletravelandlife, raved about the Wild Rose Holiday Park in Cumbria.

She claimed the location felt like she was “abroad” and she couldn’t “get over” how “nice it was.”

The family stayed in the holiday park’s “standard caravan”, and Nicole claimed it was “absolutely beautiful.”

A highlight for her was the private hot tub outside, which had “incredible views.”

Inside, she said the caravan was “spotless”, had plenty of storage and came with absolutely everything you could need – and you “literally just needed to bring your clothes.”

She said in her clip, which has racked up over 17,500 likes: “[They] even give you a little box of bin bags, washing up tablets, everything like that. So you literally do not need to bring a thing.”

The holiday park is also “dog friendly”, which she called a “huge bonus”, and the mum said they took advantage of the “adults only swim” session, which was from 6pm to 7pm.

Nicole also raved about the onsite restaurant, Coast and Country.

She continued: “They have children’s entertainment, and children also eat free.

“So we got a family of four meal: two adults, two children. It cost £41, which I think’s an absolute bargain.

“If you’re a parent, you’ll know how good this is, but in the restaurant, they have a little play area for your children to play in while you eat your meal.”

Nicole said the highlights of the holiday park for her kids were the football pitch, the park and the live entertainment in the evenings – along with the games room.

And if this wasn’t enough, she shared how you can explore many exciting options nearby, including Windermere, seeing caves and going on walks.

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The holiday park as a soft play in the restaurant to keep kids entertained[/caption]

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Nicole claimed the location felt like she was ‘abroad’[/caption]

She said she would “100 per cent” recommend the holiday park as a “perfect break away in the UK.”

Many people were quick to comment on the video and give their thoughts.

One person wrote: “We’ve been as it’s amazing! One of the best around!”

Another added: “Looks ace !!!”

However, one wrote: “Love to see my kids face when he sees that pool and I have to explain to him there’s no way machine no rapids no cyclone.

“But you can have a little paddle if you like.”

A weekend break at Center Parcs can vary significantly in price, but typically ranges from £499 to £949 or more, depending on the time of year.

WHEN a dog misbehaves, the immediate reaction of most owners is to just blame the animal.

However, Diane Hart, dog rehabilitator partnering with The Pettifor Trust, has revealed that owners themselves could be the root of the problem.

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Diane Hart is a dog expert who helps to rehome and rehabilitate border collies[/caption]

And smothering your pet with love while talking to them in a baby voice are signs you could be at fault.

Diane emphasises that owners often unintentionally cause harm by treating their dogs like human children.

Dogs, she explains, need to understand their place at the bottom of the “pack” to feel comfortable and secure.

When a dog is at the top of the hierarchy, they may begin to assert dominance, even over children.

This is especially true if the parents are strong “alphas” and the child is not, leading to the dog potentially going after anyone who touches the child.

Offering up her simple fix, Diane advises: “Don’t treat your dog like a child, you have to respect the dog for what it is.

“The dog, in order to be comfortable, has to be at the bottom of the pack. If you put them at the top of the pack, they will start bossing the kids around.”

On training and leadership, she adds: “Owners need to learn to be a pack leader, by being consistent. Once the owner shows they can take control of their dog, the dog will listen.” 

Dogs are also deeply sensitive to their human companions, with their behaviour often mirroring the owner’s temperament.

Diane says that many dogs arriving in her care demonstrate issues directly linked to their previous home environments.

And sadly, these are dogs other rescue centres might deem too challenging.

Many dogs display anxiety, reactivity, or withdrawal due to picking up on their owner’s mood or stress.

Border Collies, in particular, are highly sensitive to their surroundings and human energy.

Originally bred for rural life, they can be noise sensitive and do not thrive in overly loud or chaotic environments, such as homes with constant shouting or screaming children.

Their needs for extensive exercise arevery important, and a lack of this – coupled with frequent owner absence – can lead to severe separation anxiety and hyperactiveness.

Common behavioural issues often stem from a lack of consistent love and control within the household.

This can manifest as anxiety, nipping, pacing, and lunging at people.

Diane said: “I believe 100% a dog is a mirror image of yourself; if you are hyperactive, your Collie will be the same.

THE annual Amazon Prime Day event is returning next week.

The dates for Amazon’s popular members-only sale have been confirmed – but there’s been a shock turn of events.

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The retail giant has promised Prime members in the UK will be able to shop “some of Amazon’s best deals of the summer” with “deep discounts on some of the biggest brands, viral hits, and bestselling favourites.”

Typically, Prime Day sales have run for two days, but for July 2025, we will have an unexpected four days of deals to snap up.

Amazon constantly runs great price drops on everything from La Roche-Posay SPF to desk fans, but Amazon Prime Day is a chance to save even more on summer essentials.

Last year’s Prime Day was the biggest ever recorded, with bargain hunters snapping up more than 200 million items from independent sellers during the 48-hour sale.

Amazon also revealed that throughout 2024, Prime members in the UK saved nearly £200 on average on delivery costs alone – more than double the annual membership fee.

This year, members can expect tech offers and beauty deals, plus Prime Day discounts on home and garden essentials, fashion, and more.

The sale is perfect for stocking up on everything you need for summer and beyond, all with the benefit of fast, free delivery.

The timing couldn’t be better for savvy shoppers looking to score significant savings on big-ticket items, must-have gadgets, and everyday essentials without having to wait for the autumn sales to arrive.

We’ll be rounding up the best deals during the event, so make sure to keep checking back.

When is Prime Day 2025?

Amazon has confirmed that Prime Day will return next week.

The summer shopping extravaganza officially kicks off on July 8, 2025, offering Prime members major discounts across top brands.

Prime members can look forward to exclusive limited-time deals on tech gadgets, appliances, beauty must-haves, and fashion steals.

The July timing follows Amazon’s established pattern, with last year’s summer Prime Day taking place on 16-17 July 2024, when members enjoyed thousands of discounts across all categories.

If you’re looking to maximise your savings throughout the year, it’s worth noting that Amazon typically hosts a second major sale event in October.

While not yet confirmed for 2025, last year’s Big Deal Days kicked off the holiday shopping season on October 8-9.

But hey, we’ve got the July one before then!

How long will Prime Day 2025 last?

The Prime Day event will take place from July 8 to July 11, 2025, giving bargain hunters double the usual time to snap up unmissable offers.

According to Amazon, there will be deals across all categories, with discounts on top brands like Dyson and Ninja, and that’s not all.

The retail giant will also introduce ‘Today’s Big Deals’, featuring daily themes curated exclusively for members, including limited-time ‘New Deal Drop’ offers launching at midnight every day throughout the sales event.

We recommend keeping a close eye on the Prime Day deals hub on Amazon’s website, which will highlight the best discounts as they go live.

You can also check out the best Prime Day deals according to our team of Sun Shopping experts, who’ll be working around the clock to bring you the best bargains.

Amazon Prime vs Black Friday: which is better?

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Prime Day deals are exclusive to members[/caption]

Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday are two of the biggest shopping events of the year – but which offers the best bang for your buck?

Prime Day was originally launched in 2015 to celebrate Amazon’s 20th birthday, but has since evolved into an annual mega sale that rivals Black Friday and Cyber Monday for serious bargain hunters.

But in terms of length, scale, and discount quality, Black Friday is still the reigning deals period of the year.

You’ll find terrific price drops during both sales, and it’s not impossible that some Prime Day offers may well match those you find during Black Friday.

One major difference is that Prime Day deals are exclusive to Prime members, while Black Friday sales are open to everyone.

This means you’ll need a £8.99 monthly subscription (or a free trial) to access the discounts.

The other key difference is timing.

Prime Day takes place in July – perfect for summer purchases and early Christmas shopping, while Black Friday kicks off the festive shopping season in late November.

A great way to check if the deals are as good as they appear is by using price tracking sites like camelcamelcamel.

Other price comparison sites, such as Idealo, are also helpful and let you compare and track across multiple retailers.

Our Sun Shopping experts recommend keeping an eye on both sales for the best deals.

What were the best Prime Day deals in 2024?

Amazon’s enormous Prime Day event 2024 saw millions of impressive price cuts, but some deals stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Tech gadgets were the big winners during the summer sale, with shoppers going wild for discounted Apple products such as the AirPods Pro, which were discounted to £179 – a massive saving of £70 on the usual £249 price tag.

Amazon’s own devices were also predictably among the hottest sellers, with the Echo Dot smart speaker plummeting to just £21.99 – less than half its normal price.

Fire TV Sticks were another winner, with the 4K version dropping to a bargain £34.99, making it the perfect time to upgrade without splashing out on a new set.

In the kitchen department, the Ninja air fryers were the must-have item of Prime Day 2024, with several models selling out completely after discounts of up to £80.

Vacuum cleaners from Shark and Dyson also proved as popular as ever, with the cordless models seeing some of the biggest price drops of the event.

Amazon Prime Day dates through the years

Here’s a run-down of the dates that Amazon Prime Day has taken place since its inception in 2015:

• 2015: 15 July
• 2016: 12 July
• 2017: 11-12 July
• 2018: 17-18 July
• 2019: 15-16 July
• 2020: 13-14 October
• 2021: 21-22 June
• 2022: 12-13 July
• 2023: 11-12 July
• 2024: 16-17 July
• 2025: Set for 8-11 July

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CALL-me-Ollie forced big-time Charlie to work for the win, and then some.

Previously unknown Brit Oliver Tarvet made it clear what he wanted to be called.

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Carlos Alcaraz won in straight sets[/caption]

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Britain’s Oliver Tarvet put up a strong fight and broke serve twice[/caption]

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His girlfriend Helaena Staebler was all smiles in the stands[/caption]

And the world No 733 certainly made a name for himself with a performance against reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz that was even better than the scoreline 6-1 6-4 6-4 suggested.

Even the first set was much closer than it might seem, as the San Diego-based student showed again how much he had learned on the college circuit in the USA.

Alcaraz was not at his best, just as in his first-round victory against Fabio Fognini.

But qualifier Tarvet, 21, made life so difficult for the Spaniard right for so long, with his combination of speed, athleticism, skill and sheer guts.

It was not until the second set that the first chants of “Let’s go, Ollie, let’s go” and “Ollie, Ollie, Ollie, Oi, Oi, Oi” broke out on Centre Court.

Yet a player that most of the home fans would never have heard of until this week earned the love and respect of the British crowd

And the way he played suggested these will not be his only days in the sun.

From the beginning and for most of the match, Tarvet put Alcaraz under pressure.

He had three break points in the first  and had multiple chances to take the Alcaraz serve in two more games in the first set. Yet he somehow lost it 6-1.

Alcaraz was erratic, flipping from the ridiculous to the sublime.

When the Spaniard produced the latter in the second game of the second set, Tarvet stared in disbelief.

But the Brit refocused and at last broke his opponent’s serve.

The shock seemed to wake Alcaraz up and he hit back immediately. The pair traded games and some superb rallies, with Tarvet chasing down every ball and finding some winners of his own.

Until the No 2 seed made his move, winning the ninth game and then serving it out with an ace.

Still Tarvet would not lie down and he had the crowd on their feet again when he broke back to level the third set at 3-3.

Alcaraz was having none of it, though, once more regaining the advantage. “No, no!” yelled Tarvet in the eighth game when he buried a makeable shot in the net.

The Brit kept Alcaraz honest, forcing the reigning champion to serve it out.

The match will have felt longer than two hours and 16 minutes to the Spaniard.

Whatever happens next, Tarvet has created memories for life.

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Helaena and Tarvet met at San Diego University[/caption]

AFP

This is Tarvet’s debut in a senior tournament, ATP Tour and Grand Slam[/caption]