He was aware of the hand of history on his shoulder but Abedallah Shelbayh rose to the challenge to become the first player – professional or junior, man or woman, boy or girl – from Jordan to post a Grand Slam match-win at the Junior Championships, Wimbledon today.

“I knew what was at stake and I had some pressure,” Shelbayh told itftennis.com.

“I felt it and was nervous. A lot of people – family, friends and coaches – back home and from other Arab countries texted me. It’s obviously good that they are supporting me, but I felt like I had some pressure behind me.”

If he was straining under the weight of expectation, he did not show it. The 17-year-old defeated Mans Dahlberg of Sweden 6-4 6-3 to take his place in the second round where he will face No. 4 seed Bruno Kuzuhara of the United States.

While the next challenge is just around the corner, Shelbayh, who is ranked No. 41 in the boy’s rankings, is likely to have a host of congratulatory messages awaiting reply. That is what comes with making history on behalf of an entire nation.

“It is special,” said Shelbayh, who made his Junior Grand Slam debut at Roland Garros last month. “It is something that I don’t take for granted. I have worked hard for it and it was a dream to just play a Junior Grand Slam, let alone win a match.

“Playing a Grand Slam was a dream, now winning a match as well, it gives me confidence and hopefully I can keep doing what I’m doing, but it is so special for me.

“The first guy to play a Grand Slam, men or juniors, and winning a match here – Wimbledon is my favourite Grand Slam – is amazing. But it is not the goal to just win one match.

“I will enjoy this but not focus too much on what I have done. I need to keep focussed.”

Shelbayh’s first exposure to tennis was when his father, Khaled, was watching Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros on television and an inquisitive four-year-old started asking questions.

Khaled purchased a racket for the sport’s latest recruit and after initially hitting with his right hand, he switched to playing with his left after discovering Nadal on television for himself.

Fast-forward to 2018 and the next stage of Shelbayh’s development saw him enrol at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, where he has trained ever since. 

Shelbayh has previously told itftennis.com that seeing Nadal on a daily basis and how hungry he is for more success despite his haul of 20 Grand Slam titles rubs off and acts as a major source of inspiration. Unsurprisingly, Nadal had some words of encouragement for his protégé before he departed for London.

“Before we [those from the academy who were competing here] left he spoke to us – he is always supportive,” added Shelbayh. “It wasn’t tactics as such, but he was giving us advice about what to do.

“He is so experienced and been here and played these tournaments so many times. He has enough experience to tell us how to deal with the pressure. It is not as easy for us as it is for him, but he gave us some tips which was really great.”

France’s Arthur Fils, meanwhile, was another player to record his maiden Wimbledon match-win today, defeating Japan’s Kokoro Isomura 6-3 6-4 in a showdown which was concluded this morning after beginning on Monday. Fils will now face Victor Lilov of the United States in round two.

The 17-year-old revealed post-match that he is not superstitious but does go to the barber shop before every tournament and request a “cool haircut”. It is just as well given the amount of exposure he has received recently.

Fils defeated seasoned professional Bernard Tomic in the opening round of qualifying for Roland Garros last month before making it to the final of the boys’ draw where he succumbed to fellow Frenchman Luca van Assche.

Currently ranked No. 3 in the boys’ rankings and seeded the same here, Fils is on the march again. Should he go all the way, he would be the first French junior champion at Wimbledon since Jeremy Chardy in 2005.

“I took a lot of experience and a lot of lessons from getting to the final at Roland Garros and losing there,” Fils told itftennis.com.

“But all matches and tournaments are tough and while I did take lessons it doesn’t count for much now – Wimbledon is Wimbledon and it’s so cool. It’s tough here because I have never played on grass before. It’s strange but I played good so it is okay.”

Elsewhere, Juncheng Shang of China, the top seed in the boys’ draw, reached the second round after dispatching qualifier Igor Kudriashov of Russia. There were also first-round wins for fellow seeded players Pedro Boscardin Dias, Jack Pinnington Jones, Sean Cuenin and Jerome Kym.

In the girls’ draw, Reese Brantmeier of the United States progressed at the expense of Germany’s Nicole Rivkin, setting up a tussle with No. 16 seed Julia Garcia of Mexico in the process.