This was always a danger for a first-time Grand Slam finalist. Świątek had played five before today and never lost one; Anisimova had never been on this stage before.

The American could tell herself for two days since the semis that it was just tennis, the sport she had played her whole life. The court was the same dimensions. Just another match.

And then she walked onto Centre Court in the late afternoon sunshine. There’s Princess Catherine of Wales, in the Royal Box with a cadre of luminaries. Well, that’s fine. Wimbledon is a major. Famous people come to watch play every day.

And then, unlike her other six matches this fortnight, Anisimova stepped up to the line and… her serve just wouldn’t go in. Then her fearsome, peerless backhand wouldn’t go in. On the other side of the net, Świątek was returning everything and missing nothing.

Everything looked ready to crumble from there, and that was the story of the first set for Anisimova, a portrait of nerves in action.