Once the dust has settled, winners are often asked what the standout moment was in the weeks following their triumph. For newly-crowned Wimbledon girls’ champion Ane Mintegi Del Olmo the answer is easy, she met Felipe VI, the king of Spain.

It would be unfair to say that Mintegi Del Olmo emerged from nowhere to conquer all before her at SW19 although her unseeded status reflected the fact she was not among the favourites, yet she proved an unstoppable force.

By recovering from a set down to overcome Germany’s Nastasja Mariana Schunk in the final, the 17-year-old made history by becoming the first Spanish girl to win a Junior Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.

In fact, just two junior players from Spain have ever topped the podium at the All England Club, with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in 2017 the only winner there since Hall of Famer Manuel Orantes way back in 1967.

It was a phenomenal achievement, while the scenes of jubilation in Mintegi Del Olmo’s hometown of Idiazabal as she advanced through the tournament were both heart-warming and uplifting in equal measure.

Her accomplishments did not go unnoticed and she received a royal seal of approval. King Felipe VI, a member of the Spanish Olympic sailing team at the Barcelona Games of 1992 and also his nation’s flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony, invited her to Palacio de la Zarzuela.

“It was a very special moment that I will never forget,” Mintegi Del Olmo, who trains at TEC-Carles Salat in Barcelona, tells itftennis.com.

“He was so warm and close to me, my family and agent. We had such an amazing time and I enjoyed speaking with him about my career, tennis and sport in general.

“As a former athlete and Olympian, he is a great supporter of all Spanish athletes and that showed in our conversation. It was such a thrill.

“What was meant to be a meet and greet for 15-20 minutes actually lasted just under an hour because we just kept talking and enjoying the conversations. I hope I can meet him again and offer many more trophies in the years to come.”

King Felipe VI had to wait his turn, however, as within hours of Mintegi Del Olmo lifting silverware at Wimbledon, she was back on court at W60 Vitoria-Gasteiz where she reached the final.

She lost out to compatriot Rebeka Masarova but a season-best showing at that level of competition offered evidence that her Wimbledon exploits have provided added impetus.

Not dwelling on her momentous victory perhaps also ensured that Mintegi Del Olmo will remain grounded and not indulge in any form of complacency, although judging by her rhetoric any such suggestions would appear unlikely.  

“I carried on with my normal life and went straight to play an ITF $60k tournament near home,” said Mintegi Del Olmo. “I had a great week and enjoyed playing in front of my family and friends after such an emotional week at Wimbledon.

“Winning the Junior Championships at Wimbledon is something that I will always have with me and will bring great memories to my family and friends. It’s a great motivation to carry on working hard.

“I will keep my feet on the ground and, with the help of my team and family, hopefully this is the start of a successful career. I can’t wait to come back to Wimbledon and enjoy playing on the grass again next year as a pro.”

Should Mintegi Del Olmo need any additional inspiration ahead of taking the next steps in her career, she need look no further than another Spanish headline-maker in two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza.

Muguruza was part of Mintegi Del Olmo’s Wimbledon celebrations, with the teenager, who cited Carla Suarez Navarro as a hugely motivational figure as she advanced through the girls’ draw in southwest London, grabbing a picture with her more established colleague.

“Garbine is of course a great player and an inspiration for all Spanish players,” added Mintegi Del Olmo. “She was very nice to me when we met in Melbourne last year and I hope I can play with her on the tour in the near future.”

But more than anything, it is the support of family and friends which would appear to underpin Mintegi Del Olmo’s disciplined and understated approach to the game and her future within it.

The backing she has received from Idiazabal, a town renowned for its cheese, is something she will be eternally grateful for. While Mintegi Del Olmo intends to continue placing smiles on faces, she also has designs on putting her birthplace firmly on the tennis map.

“It’s been crazy all the buzz and support from my hometown people, across the Basque Country and Spain,” she said. “I am really grateful for all the nice messages and support from everyone.

“I am happy that my mum sent me the videos of people from Idiazabal supporting me during Wimbledon and particularly the final after the match, because otherwise I would have got a little extra nervous before stepping on court.

“But it makes me very happy that my fellow Idiazabal people were able to enjoy my victory and celebrate together, particularly under the current circumstances. Like I say, hopefully this is the start of a successful career.”