Australian Alex Bolt captured the imagination of Wimbledon this week with his remarkable exploits in qualifying for the big show, but he's adamant he's not finished yet as he targets the biggest win of his career against Casper Ruud in the main draw.
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Bolt was an eager observer of the draw on Friday after his extraordinary week which began with him rushing on court at Roehampton on Monday to take up his spot as a last-minute replacement in the qualifying draw before winning three straight contests - his last from match-point down.
And to complete his memorable week, the 31-year-old South Australian must fancy he's got the perfect opener on Monday's first round - drawn against a big name but a player who is about as uncomfortable on the grass as Bolt is accomplished.
Ruud, the No.8 seed, fits the bill perfectly as a potential 'giant kill' and won't be looking forward to playing a leftie who boasts a remarkable 18 wins and just two losses on grass this year, including two smaller ITF triumphs in successive weeks back in Australia in March.
"Playing the big guys in the big tournaments, that's what it's all about," beamed Bolt on Friday.
Asked if he felt Ruud was beatable on grass, even given the fact the Norwegian is world No.8 and he's a lowly 234, Bolt said: "I back myself against anyone on grass.
"If I go out there and do what I want to do well then I'm going to be tough for anyone to beat. I've got a free swing because I wasn't even in the qualifying draw and now I'm in the main draw."
And Ruud has a terrible record at Wimbledon for a player of his gifts on the other surfaces, having reached a US Open and two French Open finals. In four visits to the SW19 main draw, he's never yet got past the second round.
Bolt has loved Wimbledon down the years. In 2019, he had to subdue an Italian teenage whirlwind in qualifying who, he smiles, has now gone on to be world No.1 - a certain Jannik Sinner.
"I can win on these courts, and use that as motivation and confidence that I know how to get the job done here," shrugged Bolt.
The southpaw, who reckons his grass-court prowess comes from been brought up on the courts of his first home-town club in Murray Bridge, reflected with a smile on how his mad week had begun as a hopeful reserve.
"It was quarter to 11 on Monday, and the referees said they hadn't heard of anyone that's going to pull out yet'. So I was like, 'okay, alright, I'll just go to the cafe, maybe use the last of my money on my badge, try to get the last meal in!
"And just before I was about to walk to the cafe my name gets called over the loudspeaker and they're like, 'yep, someone's pulled out you're in and you're on at 11'. So I literally had 10 minutes to get my white kit on and warm up and get ready for the match.
"I even had to ask the ref 'who am I playing?' They were like 'Nicolas Kicker'. I was like, 'all right'. Didn't have any time to prep for it, and it was probably a blessing in disguise to be honest because I had nothing to lose and could just go out there and have a crack."
He's still having a red-hot crack - and it doesn't bode well for Ruud.
Australian Associated Press
