By Erik Gudris | @atntennis| Thursday, July 6, 2023
Briton Liam Broady earned his biggest career win over two-time Roland Garros finalist Casper Ruud.
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport
For Liam Broady, it’s a dream come true.
For Casper Ruud it’s another early exit at Wimbledon.
More: Federer Receives Rousing Welcome in Return
The 29-year-old Briton Broady earned his biggest career win with a five-set comeback conquest of fourth-seeded Casper Ruud 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 at Wimbledon.
The win comes weeks after Ruud contested his second Roland Garros final in Paris.
Broady sent British fans into a frenzy with his committed comeback.
“When I went to bed last night, I was having a think what I’d say if I won the match, and I don’t really know what to say now,” Broady said afterwards to a delighted Centre Court crowd. “It’s a pretty terrifying, exhilarating experience coming out on Centre Court at Wimbledon.
"It’s been my dream since I was five years old.”
US Open runner-up Ruud, who skipped the entire grass-court season to recover after an arduous run to the Roland Garros final, reflected on another early SW19 exit. Ruud has failed to surpass the second round in four career Wimbledon appearances.
“Yeah, well, I think first of all, Liam played really well. He deserved the victory, for sure," Ruud told the media afterward. "I was pretty happy, especially honestly the first four sets. I started good, then kind of messed up a little and lost the first, but bounced back and won the second and third.
"Fourth just got away unluckily in the beginning. He broke me. I couldn't break back. In the fifth, he was just dominant.Yeah, all in all, I think was a quite good Wimbledon for me. The best one of my career so far, reaching the second round. Losing in a tough five-setter. That's how it goes sometimes. Getting more experience here at Wimbledon is fun. Playing on Centre Court was amazing.”
Though currently ranked World No. 142, Broady clearly proved to be the better grass court player on the day.
Even though Ruud was the higher ranked seed and, has been to three major finals, the Norwegian could not maintain his momentum even after taking a two sets to one lead.
Ruud had trouble closing out the third set 6-4 and it was from there Broady, inspired by the support of the home crowd, began showing off his best tennis.
Broady, after taking the fourth set, quickly secured an early break in the final set. From there, Broady did not let up the pressure as Ruud began to fade.
Broady soon held a 5-0 and closed out the five-set victory, receiving a huge roar from the Centre Court crowd and completing his first ever top 10 victory.
Afterward, Broady said his flat strikes and feel shots around net made Ruud uncomfortable.
"I think the way I hit the ball. Obviously being a lefty, as well, we use a lot of slice as lefties into the backhand of opponents," Broady said. "I'm quite comfortable around the net, coming forwards. I quite like to slice. All very effective on the grass.
"My backhand is very flat. My forehand isn't exactly the spinniest either. That's the one thing with Casper is I think the way he hurts players is with heavy spin. On the grass that counts for nothing, really. It's more about the feel shots.
"I thought he actually sliced really well today. I just think some small adjustments here and there about the way he hits the ball. There were maybe two second-serve returns in the match he stood on the baseline, took on the rise, he hit them really well. I think he is able to do it. I think maybe he could probably do that from the baseline, as well. He sometimes sort of moves back on the backhand, let's it drop, then tries to go back with height. On the grass, it's not worth much."
Broady will next face No. 26 seed and former semifinalist Denis Shapovalov in the third round.