SHERROCK ‘N ROLL STAR
Fallon’s fame has gone worldwide
FALLON SHERROCK only realised she had done something special for women’s sport when tennis legend Billie Jean King sent her congratulations on Twitter.
As the new Queen of Ally Pally absorbed the enormity of her feat, Sherrock said: “Who would have thought someone like that would tweet me?
“I mean, I am me! I am just a normal person from Milton Keynes. This stuff doesn’t happen to normal people, it’s incredible.”
Sherrock had already made history by becoming the first woman to beat a bloke at the World Championship when she knocked out Ted Evetts in the first round. But by toppling Austria’s World No.11 Mensur Suljovic 3-1 on Saturday night, with the fancy dress battalions reaching fever pitch, she has elevated herself into the superstar bracket.
Six-time Wimbledon champion King does not send personal messages on social media to any old Tom, Dick or Harriet.
And whether she likes it or not, Sherrock is no longer just a darts player who won the nation’s hearts on TV in the Christmas party season.
She is now a champion of the sisterhood and sporting mums. All for winning two games of darts – brilliantly.
Sherrock’s finishing against Suljovic – landing 69 per cent of her checkouts – was sensational. And to complete the greatest upset in darts history on the bullseye was pure gold.
She will compose a reply to Billie Jean’s goodwill message and then tackle her biggest test of a momentous week yet: Facing the public to go out
Christmas shopping. If Sherrock hopes anonymity will be kind to her, she hasn’t got a prayer.
She said: “I will tweet back to her eventually. I’ll think of a response. I will do that socially.
“I am surprised by how it has blown up as much as it has. Who would have thought it (the response) would have been worldwide? I thought it would be just the people who knew about darts, just normal people.
“If people didn’t know darts, they know about darts now. They want to watch it, want to play, inspire more people to play it... that is insane.
“I like to inspire people and I try to help people as much as I can. If I can be a role model and leader, I am happy to do that.
“This week has been manic, and I love it. I don’t want it to end.
“I have just beaten one of the best players in the world. If you had told me I would do that a few weeks ago, I would have thought you were having a laugh.”
Sherrock can now prepare for a Christmas like no other. On December 27, she will play mercurial Geordie Chris Dobey for a place in the last 16.
That’s the last 16 players left at the WORLD Championship, not some all-comers night down at the Dog and Duck.
She is already on a guaranteed payday of £25,000 and beating Dobey will be worth another 10 grand on top.
“It instantly changes my life,” she said. “Right now, I can’t think how it will affect my life, but it will definitely change it.”