British star Liam Broady admits winning on Wimbledon’s Centre Court is ‘the pinnacle’ – after the wildcard stunned world No 4 Casper Ruud to reach the third round at SW19
Liam Broady says it was worth 25 years of toil to reach the ‘pinnacle of sport’ and win on Centre Court on Thursday after the Brit wildcard shocked world No 4 Casper Ruud.
The Stockport sensation forced the Norwegian prodigy to five sets and breezed to a 6-0 win in the decider.
And Broady said triumphing on the prestigious court at last fulfilled his biggest dream in tennis and put his demons to bed.
‘I was a very good junior, I was No 2 in the world and played on No 1 Court in the final of the juniors,’ he said.
‘I was a set and a break up and completely choked it, guffed it. That haunted me my entire career.
Liam Broady says it was worth 25 years of toil to reach the ‘pinnacle of sport’ on Thursday
The British wildcard stunned World No 4 Casper Ruud to reach the third round at Wimbledon
The Stockport sensation forced Ruud to five sets and breezed to a 6-0 win in the decider
‘It always bothered me coming back and playing on the bigger courts, and never really feeling like I was comfortable and had performed. That’s why it felt good today.
‘This is why I play tennis. I’m 29 years old and only have so many Wimbledons left in my career. You have to take the bull by the horns with these chances.
‘It’s the pinnacle of almost any sport. It’s the third round of Wimby, I think it’s £131,000 prize money.’
Fellow Brit Katie Boulter also advanced to the third round.
The national No 1 said she has ‘nothing to lose’ against defending champion Elena Rybakina in her next match.
Broady is set to play Canadian Denis Shapovalov on Court 2 on Friday.