British tennis hopeful Paul Jubb battled bravely through his first ever Wimbledon match to the delight of his family.
The 19-year-old slipped to defeat watched by proud gran Valerie.
But the 77-year-old had to leave when Paul was two sets down to catch a train with other family members home to their council estate in Hull.
Yet Paul said: “They told me they had to go back at some point. I was more happy for them, getting to watch me play at Wimbledon.
“They all tell me how proud they are, which is really nice.”
Unfortunately, the family missed a fightback in which Paul, playing well into the evening, won the third set before losing 6-0 6-3 6-7 6-1 to Portuguese Joao Sousa.
Paul’s cousin Ian Ralph said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic. We’ve loved it. He’s a great lad and we’re really proud.”
Valerie, who had brought up her orphan grandson, paid for his tennis lessons out of her pension.
Plucky Paul admitted not getting the £42,000 first-round loser’s prize money because of being an amateur at college was “not great” in the short term.
But he insisted he was “not too worried” as there will be more opportunity to earn big sums in the future.
He said he planned to be back at Wimbledon but not as a wildcard.
Paul’s defeat came at the end of a brilliant day for Brits at SW19, in which the Duchess of Cambridge turned up unexpectedly and cheered on youngster Harriet Dart.
The 22-year-old revealed she learned she would be watched by the future Queen only when the umpire told her at the coin toss.
Harriet, who won in three sets, said: “It’s pretty cool to have royalty watching you, it’s such a privilege.”
Kate then watched eight-time champ Roger Federer win on Centre Court before staying to cheer on fellow royal Meghan’s pal Serena Williams.
