Broady’s sights set on top 100
HAVING ended a six-year wait for victory at Wimbledon, Liam Broady is looking to build on his 2021 momentum by gatecrashing the game’s top 100 rankings.
Broady’s tournament ended with a second round defeat in four sets against Argentine Diego Schwartzman – but the Stockport ace made a real game of it in a contest which showcased his ability to mix it with the best.
Schwartzman won 4-6 6-2 6-1 6-4 with the Court 12 crowd treated to three hours and 14 minutes of superb tennis, Broady going close to taking the match into a fifth-set decider.
It was not to be for the world number 142, but his performance convinced him he’s heading in the right direction with thoughts turning now to qualifying for the US Open and continuing his fine form after already reaching two Challenger event finals in 2021.
“Qualifying for the US Open will always be a target and that is probably the slam I have done the worst at in the past,” he said.
“I will go out for the US swing, try to play more of the ATPs and just learn as quick as I can and hopefully that will be in time for the US.
“Top 100 by the end of the year is definitely a goal now and a very real goal, so aiming for the main draw at Australia by right would be a good target.
“I’m very accustomed to dealing with bad tennis. This year’s been good because obviously my ranking has been moving the right direction. I’ve had some good wins. I’ve been more consistent. I feel like the tennis that I’ve been putting on the court in general has actually been watchable probably for the first time in my pro career.”
Broady reached a career best of 137 in April having come close to quitting the sport three years ago.
Recently at Queen’s Club and Eastbourne he has faced Adrian Mannarino, Frances Tiafoe and Alex De Minaur, whetted Broady’s appetite for Wimbledon before the wildcard sealed only a second win at the All England Club with a victory over Marco Cecchinato.
“Queen’s and Eastbourne were fantastic experiences and again here against Diego,” he said. “These are the guys I want to play against, the guys you learn the most against and learn where you need to improve.
“I feel a better player now than I was two or three months ago even if my results might not show it because of the calibre of player I am facing is greater than I am used to.”
A 53-minute opening set was a sign of things to come on Court 12 and even though the third went the way of Schwartzman by a 6-1 score, that almost lasted an hour – coming in at 49 minutes.
Broady admitted the match required a lot of energy, but thanked the home support he received with those present full of noise in a back and fourth battle.
“The intensity Diego brings to court physically and mentally is pretty scary. I have not played against many players at that level before and that is why he is where he is.
“In the fourth set I started to lean on the crowd a little bit and try to get them involved. They really helped me find a second wind and I hope everybody enjoyed themselves, I certainly did.”
The progress Broady has made can be attributed to multiple reasons – including the global Covid pandemic.
“I think the whole Covid pandemic has kind of made people mature, or people who were immature to start with – I’m one of those people - it’s definitely made me mature quite a lot in some of the right ways,” he said.