Ashleigh Barty has wowed British sporting royalty with a regal performance to waltz into the second week of Wimbledon for the first time.
Extending her winning streak to 15 matches, the last 10 without dropping a set, Barty dispatched British wildcard Harriet Dart 6-1 6-1 in a majestic centre-court debut as world No.1.
Olympic legends Sebastian Coe, Mo Farah, Chris Hoy, cricketers Joe Root, Jimmy Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan and Andrew Strauss and England football manager Gareth Southgate all enjoyed a Royal Box vantage point as Barty picked apart Dart in a meagre 53 minutes.
But it was perhaps countryman Rod Laver, who was presented with a special plague before the match to recognise the 50th anniversary of his 1969 grand slam triumph, and fellow tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Billie-Jean King who would have most appreciated Barty’s classic old-school game.
Mixing mesmerising slices with exquisite drop shots, explosive forehand winners and 11 aces, Australia’s relentless top seed wasted minimal energy or time in setting up a last-16 date on Monday with unseeded Alison Riske.
Victory over the American would thrust Barty into a potentially mouth-watering quarter-final showdown with seven-times champion Serena Williams.
Barty broke Dart on her first two service games to race to a 5-0 lead before pocketing the opening set with three booming aces.
There was no let-up for the French Open champion in the second set as Barty dropped just more game in securing a commanding victory.
Barty is Australia’s last hope in the singles, with John Millman earlier on Saturday losing his third-round men’s match 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 to American Sam Querrey.