JAMES Ward will be in the top 100 for the first time when the world rankings are published after Wimbledon thanks to his second-round win over Jiri Bedely of the Czech Republic.
But another British player, Aljaz Bedene, was unable to join Ward and Andy Murray in the third round, losing to the No 22 seed, Viktor Troicki of Serbia.
Ward, whose Davis Cup victory over John Isner in Glasgow back in March was a massive confidence boost, beat Bedely 6-2, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 on Court No 2. He had to dig deep after losing that third set, and later said that the way in which he fought back to take the fourth was the thing that had pleased him most about the match.
"After playing an average third set, to bounce back and come through with a win shows a lot of character and I was happy with that," the 28-year-old Londoner said. "In the fourth set I held a couple of tough games. It was some tough times, but I'm just happy I got through it.
"The last three service games in that set were tough. He made a lot of returns, put the pressure on to make sure that he didn't give it to me easy. He held his serve pretty comfortably in the last couple games, as well.
"I guess I'm just obviously happy that I've reached the third round for the first time. Onwards and upwards. [Getting into the top 100] is something you work for your whole career."
Ward's next opponent is Vasek Pospisil, who knocked out Italy's No 30 seed Fabio Fognini. The Czech is little known in this country, other than for having won the doubles here last year with Jack Sock, but he is very familiar to Ward.
"I know him pretty well," the British No 2 continued. "He's a good friend of mine actually. We spend a lot of time together.
"In the last few years, we've played a couple of times as well in the Challenger tour, a couple bigger matches in the semis and finals in the past. We both know each other's games, so there's not too many secrets. It's a great chance for both of us."
Out on Court 12, Bedene gave himself a fighting chance to make the third round when he took the second set from Troicki after the Serb had won the first. In the end, though, the seed's experience told, and Bedene went down 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 4-6.
Had Bedene won through to the last 32 it would have been the best overall showing by Britain's men since 1999, when Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and Danny Sapsford all reached the third round.
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