It was a tough gig for Barbora Krejcikova and Mirra Andreeva: command attention while England are playing an unexpectedly gripping soccer World Cup tie against DR Congo, but they delivered.
In a rollercoaster two hours, 46 minutes that completely overlapped the soccer, former champion Krejcikova came back to defeat the newly-crowned French Open winner 4-6 7-5 6-4, despite the Russian saving six match points as the Czech attempted to serve out at 5-3 in the third.
It was rich reward for those who forsook the Three Lions.
Wimbledon likes to ignore the ruffians' game. They have always resolutely refused to show matches on the Murray Mound big screen, and not just in deference to their last British champion being Scottish.
Royal Box occupants, who included a cluster of Ryder Cup golfers led by Rory McIlroy, were even asked not to watch the game on their phones.
Krejcikova and Andreeva warmed up in front of an inevitably thin audience as spectators took a break after watching Jannik Sinner defeat Nuno Borges.
But as the match wore on empty seats became fewer as word spread.
Krejcikova had raced into a 3-0 lead but won one of the next seven games to lose the first stanza.
The 2024 Wimbledon champion, who also has a French Open crown on her resume, grabbed an early break in the second too, only to let it slip again as 5-2 became 5-5. But this time she responded, breaking to love in the 12th game to take the set.
In the third Krejcikova broke at 3-2, extended that to 5-2, but then failed to finish off the Russian in a lengthy 20-point game at 5-3.
It may not have helped that the football peaked at this stage with Harry Kane’s 86th-minute winner prompting small cheers from the Wimbledon crowd, followed by louder celebrations at the full-time whistle.
The tennis also concluded as Andreeva worked herself a game point to level the set, but lost the next three points, and the match.
"What a match," said Krejcikova. "I'm really happy that we were able to put on a great show. We were fighting till the very last point.
"She's such a young and unique player. She has everything in front of her. I'm extremely proud I managed to win.
Krejcikova now meets compatriot Nikola Bartunkova who put out another Czech, 32nd-seed Katerina Siniakova 6-2 6-4.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, still seeking a Wimbledon title, was cruising against American McCartney Kessler but had to save four second set points to win 6-1 7-6 (11-9).
She now meets a fellow big-hitter, Latvian Jelena Ostapenko.
Two big names with six grand slam titles between them but surprisingly poor Wimbledon records progressed.
Seventh seed Coco Gauff beat Argentina's Solana Sierra 6-3 3-6 7-6 (10-7) and will now play American qualifier Claire Liu.
Naomi Osaka brushed aside Anastasia Gasanova in just over a hour 6-3 6-2 and next faces Australia's Daria Kasatkina
