Reat Britain’s Cameron Norrie said he felt driven by “funny” soccer-style songs from fans during his Center Court victory.
The 26-year-old British number one beat America’s Steve Johnson in three consecutive sets on day five of Wimbledon.
At the end of the match, spectators shouted, cried and sang “Norrie, Norrie Norrie, oi, oi, oi”.
Speaking about the songs after the game, Norrie said to journalists: “Honestly, it was pretty funny.
“I really enjoyed the match.
“(The hymns) definitely contributed to the noise of the match and atmosphere out there at Center Court.”
His girlfriend, Louise Jacobi, was among those cheering enthusiastically from the sidelines, and spectators were still on top as they streamed out of SW19’s main track.
Charlotte Moylan, 26, who watched Michael and Jane Ham with her parents, told the PA news agency that she “shouted” at Norrie and shed a tear at the end of his match.
When asked how they reacted to the match, Mr. Ham whistled loudly, and Ms Moylan said, “A lot of it, yes.
“We shouted.
“It was expected, he did so well through the whole thing – we knew he was going to win, it was just a case of when he was going to close the deal.
“When he did that, the crowd went wild, it was incredible.
“I was very overwhelmed with the whole experience, but I think everyone was.
“There was a couple behind me who went crazy and we all got excited together when we watched it.”
Mr. Ham, a 52-year-old managing director, said: “He blew it. Our British support the British, not true.
“It was a very good match – look forward to seeing him win the final.”
Dan Musgrave, a 33-year-old accountant from Worthing, West Sussex, said: “It got quite noisy towards the end.
“The ‘Norrie, Norrie, Norrie, oi, oi, oi’ songs started, like a football crowd.
“Everyone is really behind him now and I think he will be an awkward opponent for whom he plays next.”
Attorney Hafsa Umarji, 41, said she could see the emotion on Norrie’s face from her seat in the front rows and called him “Britain’s only hope”.
Ms Umarji, from South Woodford in north-east London, told PA: “The atmosphere was incredible, and everyone was really ready to tackle it.
“We were right in front and we saw him – you could see he really wanted it.
“Every point mattered, even if he won.
“It was so good to be a part of something like that, because since Andy’s out, he’s now Britain’s only hope – from the men.
“There were a few people who shouted ‘Andy’ and tried to say he’s the next Andy Murray, but it’s a little early for that.”