Gordon Reid made a spectacular start in his bid to join fellow Scot Andy Murray as a grand slam champion - and then thanked the first family of British tennis for their support.
Wheelchair singles star Reid hails from Glasgow and shook up the Australian Open draw by beating Japan's world number one Shingo Kunieda in his opening match.
The 24-year-old won through 6-3 7-6 (7/1) at Melbourne Park and will tackle Argentinian Gustavo Fernandez in the semi-finals on Thursday.
He joins Johanna Konta and the Murray brothers - Andy and doubles star Jamie - in reaching the last-four stage at a highly successful tournament for British players.
"It's the perfect start to the week," said Reid, who was watched from courtside by Judy Murray.
"I knew it was going to be a really tough match against Shingo. He's the world number one for a reason and he's been so dominant in our sport over the last few years.
"That's the best I have played in a singles match at a slam and it was against the toughest opposition, so hopefully that's the start of more to come and I can play like that again in more singles matches at slams."
Andy Murray saluted Reid's achievement, saying at his press conference after beating David Ferrer: "Gordon Reid had a great win as well today against the number one in the world who they told me has only lost like once here in the last 10 years."
The Murray camp have encouraged Reid to make the best of his tennis ability, and the Paralympian said: " I know them quite well now. Judy's a big supporter of wheelchair tennis. She comes and watches a lot of the wheelchair matches, especially at the grand slams.
"Andy's been really supportive of me recently as well. They give me some nice messages now and again. It's great to have people like that behind you."
Reid would love to launch his year with a maiden slam title, before setting his sights on Wimbledon's first wheelchair singles event and the Rio Paralympics in September.
He said: "It's going to be a huge year with Rio coming up and the other slams. It's an exciting time."
Source: PA
