Wildcard Jack Pinnington Jones said winning his opening match at Wimbledon “fulfilled a childhood dream”.
The 22-year-old beat former world number 27 Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Tuesday to claim his first ever Grand Slam win and reach the second round.
“For me it’s a childhood dream fulfilled to win at Wimbledon,” he told BBC Sport.
“I’m just trying to enjoy the moment and take it in. It hasn’t sunk in just yet. It’s very rare that you get to play in your own backyard and for that to be Wimbledon is special.
“It was awesome to see my friends and family on the court get stuck in and cheering me on. It was great to have them there and to see them and afterwards.”
Pinnington Jones beat the Argentine on Court 17 in straight sets, winning the first 7-4 on a tie-break before completing a 7-6 6-3 7-5 victory.
He will next face Italian Flavio Cobolli, the world number 24, on Thursday as he tries to cause another upset and go one step further.
The Londoner went to school in Bournemouth and was coached as a teenager at West Hants Tennis Club in Dorset.
He completed his junior season at Texas Christian University in May but recently decided against returning for his final year so he could pursue his tennis career.
“I couldn’t start my pro career much better than winning in the first round at Wimbledon,” he said.
“It feels like I backed myself and made the right choice for now. It’s been a different type of pressure playing here.
“I played some of my best tennis today when down a break point. It was one of those days where I felt like I was getting the rub of the green and was playing well, it really worked out for me today.”
