Fallon Sherrock said it was “incredible” to have her latest PDC World Darts Championship win tweeted about by Billie Jean King.
Sherrock stunned 11th seed Mensur Suljovic on Saturday night to win her second-round match 3-1 and continue her historic run at Alexandra Palace.
The 25-year-old, who now faces Chris Dobey on Friday, became the first woman to win a match at the tournament four days earlier by beating Ted Evetts.
Congratulations to @Fsherrock, who has just defeated the World No. 11 player to advance to the 3rd round of the #WorldDartsChampionship! Earlier this week, she became the 1st woman in history to win a match in the championship! #Gamechanger https://t.co/qsbrt6VxWT — Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) December 21, 2019
Former world number one women’s tennis player King, 76, a 12-time grand slam singles champion and a pioneer of gender equality, congratulated Sherrock on her latest victory.
“It hasn’t all sunk in yet,” Sherrock told BBC 5 Live. “I haven’t had time to process the first game let alone this game.
“Then the fact that all these people are tweeting me, especially Billie Jean King.
“Oh my god, I never thought someone like that would be contacting me or congratulating me or anything like that.
Never enjoyed @SkySportsDarts as much as tonight @Fsherrock you absolute hero 💥 — Andrew Flintoff (@flintoff11) December 21, 2019
“I mean, this is me. I’m just a normal person. This stuff doesn’t happen to me, but it’s incredible and I’m loving it.
When asked if she thought she could go on to win the tournament, Sherrock said: “Why not? The possibilities are endless now. Who’s to say that I can’t?
“I’m so looking forward to my next game and then just take each one as it comes. Who’s to say I can’t?”
Sherrock said she had been unaffected by nerves during her latest victory, which was sealed with a bulls-eye throw.
“I was like, ‘oh my god, I’ve just taken out one of the best men in the world’ and then the audience just went mental,” she added.
“I turned round and I was in disbelief. I couldn’t believe it.
“After it went in, then it (my heart) went ‘boom! boom! boom!’, but when I was playing I was so calm, so relaxed.
“I’ve never felt so relaxed and so calm when I’m playing on a stage before. I’m loving it. It’s brilliant.”
Really buzzing now…. ! I have done it again.. !😳😳 OMG pic.twitter.com/TOlaNWgkhR — Fallon Sherrock (@Fsherrock) December 21, 2019
Sherrock’s achievements this week have increased calls for greater opportunities for female players to make a name for themselves.
On whether she would like to see women take on men on a regular basis on the PDC Pro Tour or a women’s only tour launched, Sherrock said she would be keen on either.
“Both would be great,” she said. “I just think when women play the men it does bring out our better game, I think we need to prove ourselves first.
“But obviously if there was a (women’s) tour as well, or something like that, that would be brilliant as well.
“It would show you how strong the women’s game is at the moment and that’s what we need as well.”
