Broady crashes out of Wimbledon in three straight sets at hands of De Minaur
By Paul Lagan on Court 1, Wimbledon
Broady v De Minaur
3-6, 4-6, 5-7
Liam Broady slipped out of Wimbledon with a three set defeat to Australian Alex De Minaur.
The lad from Stockport simply wasn’t good enough – De Minaur was a smidgen of a level better than the Cheshire player in all departments and that was reflected in the 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 scoreline.
De Minur wasn’t broken until the later stages of the third set, when his level dropped to that of Broady’s and the two slugged it out from the baseline, with De Minaur the eventual winner.
It took 19 minutes for the first break of serve, and Broady was on the receiving end of it, losing his serve to love in the fifth game.
De Minaur traded deep baseline rallies and showed just that little bit extra in quality and precision.
A hard fought for point when already 40- love down got the crowd excited but he needed to continued in the same vein.
Sadly for the British No5, he didn’t replicate it no went 5-2 down. A service win for Broady monster De Minaur served for the set, and it was never in doubt, overpowering the Brit to love after 28 minutes.
Broadly needed to up his game significantly if he was to dent the Aussie’s resolve.
Instead at 1-1, Broady struggled to hold his serve but did after several deuces and an advantage against him.
Meanwhile De Minaur never looked in trouble on his serve.
A sublime winner by De Minaur which sailed over Broady’s head and dipped in court, broke Broady’s resolve, but more importantly his serve to give the Australian a 3-2 lead.
Serves were held, although Broady once gain only just managed to save his, having been love 40 down to make it 4-3 to De Minaur.
The first nerves showed on De Minaur in his serve as he went love 30 down, but it was not enough for Broady to capitalise on and he took the game to lead 5-3. He subsequently served out the set.
It got worse for Broady in the opening game of the third set. He was broken straightaway to 30.
Broady had his first break point in the next game, but slightly overhit a lob to give De Minaur a 2-0 lead.
Broady clung just into his serve and hoped that he could somehow find the shot to break his opponent.
Games went with serve, with the occasional dash of hope for Broady.
But at 3-5, Broady had reached the point of no return. He had to win his serve and hope to finally break De Minaur.
And incredibly he did – taking the game back on serve at 5-5.
But after the adrenaline rush of that sensational an vital break, Broady conspired to immediately lose his serve to put him back on the brink.
Broady had advantage to take the game to a tie-break, but a wonderful right-handed forearm drive across court wrong footed Broady and the game went to deuce.
Again Broady had advantage, the crowd wanted him to get it. But he failed to put the ball away.
But a wayward drive down the line gave the ld from Stockpot his third advantage but for the third time De Minaur found a winner.
A return into the net gave the Australian his first match point – but he fluffed it, sending the ball long.
A fine serve restored match point, which Broady again forced an error from De Minaur.
A long ball by Broady gave De Minaur his fourth match point – which incredibly Broady won with a fine angled shot.
Again a poor return made it a fifth match point. Which, after two hour and 25 minutes, saw Broady slam his return ball into the net to give De Minaur the win.
Top picture – Liam Broady Picture: Paul Lagan