The wizard of Oz

Liam Broady sensationally qualifies for Aussie Open after stunning comeback win.

Liam Broady pulled off an astounding comeback to book his place in the main draw of Tennis’s Australian Open and seal a dream first round tie with Aussie firebrand Nick Kyrgios.


Broady trailed by a set and 5-2 and was as much as 4000/1 to win with one bookmaker at one stage only, to storm back and seal a sensational and emotional victory.


The Stockport born left hander, who was seeded Number 10, was up against in-form Russian Roman Safiullin who had starred for his nation in their recent run to the ATP Cup semi final.


Safiullin who had ended Broady’s quest to qualify in Roland Garros eight months ago demonstrated his recent electric form by storming into an early 3-0 lead, only for Broady to peg him back as the Manchester-based Broady started to find his range in the Melbourne evening sun.


Having forced Safiullin into a forehand error to break back, Broady then looked set to take the lead when he brought up three break points in the seventh game, but Safiullin showed all his mettle to hold on and the 24 year old Russian drew first blood in the tenth game when out of nowhere he found two blistering returns which Hawkeye showed had clipped the baseline to bring up a set point.


The under-pressure Broady sadly chose the worst possible moment to deliver a double fault on set point to allow Safiullin to clinch the opener 6-4.


Broady brought up a break point in the third game of the second set but again he was unable to convert and when Safiullin broke and then held for a 5-2 lead it appeared that Broady’s brave attempt to qualify would fall short.


However, the changeover brought about a remarkable transformation as Broady refused to leave the tournament without a fight, holding to love, and then breaking to love as the under-pressure Russian’s game became increasingly ragged.


Broady completed his third consecutive game without losing a point to draw level at 5-5 and despite being denied three times when serving to force a tie break, Broady was finally able to take the set into a decider.
A sensational backhand winner started the tie-break going the way of the Heaton Chapel star and he took it 7-2 with a combination of winners and Safiullin errors.


The Russian was gesturing his disbelief and anger to his entourage during the changeover, but managed to compose himself to exchange holds early on in the decider.


Broady’s drive to complete the win was now irresistible with the Russian’s game disintegrating in response to Broady’s persistence and consistency and at 3-2 a sumptuous down-the-line winner set Broady up for a break point which he converted to break the Russian to love and bring up a 4-2 lead.


A routine hold heaped the pressure back on Safiullin and Broady’s dominance was such that despite trailing 40-0 in the eighth game, he won the last five points of the match to turn a 40-0 deficit into another break and bring up a 4-6 7-6 (2) 6-2 victory before collapsing to the ground and kissing the Melbourne tarmac in recognition of the emotion and significance of his victory.


This is only the second time that Broady has qualified for a grand slam, following his qualification for the Roland Garros tournament in 2020 and when the qualifiers were placed in the main draw, the mouthwatering prospect of facing Aussie wild-man Nick Kyrgios on his home turf became a reality to cap a memorable and thrilling day for Broady.  


Report on Broady- Kyrgios first round game

Stockport’s Liam Broady was caught up in a service whirlwind, in a raucous John Cain Arena in today’s first round Australian Open Tennis tie.


Broady, who had qualified for the Australian Open for the first time, having come back from first set deficits three times in qualifiers fell to a 6-4 6-4 6-3 defeat to a fired-up Nick Kyrgios in front of a wild Melbourne crowd despite impressing the crowd with a resilient performance.

 
Kyrgios has made no secret of the fact that the Arena, is his favourite court in tennis, and it was at fever pitch early on as Kyrgios stormed out of the blocks in his first match for four months. 


Having broken Broady early on, he brought the house down when sealing his first service game with a through-the-legs underarm serve.


It looked at that stage like Broady could be blown away but the Stockport left hander stood strong in the baying arena with a service hold to 30 to get onto the board.


That early break proved crucial though, as Kyrgios’ serve was imperious and meant that despite Broady holding serve comfortably the Australian was able to wrap up the first set with 10 aces and an 83% first serve percentage.


The second set followed a similar pattern to the first with Broady fighting desperately to get on the board, three times Broady faced a break point, only to save it, but at the fourth time of asking Kyrgios was able to seal the break and take the early advantage.


Broady saved a breakpoint before getting on the board in the third game, and despite winning a fair proportion of points when he was able to get a foothold in the point, the accuracy and power of Kyrgios’ serve made it very difficult for Broady to create any sustained pressure.


Kyrgios ramped up his first serve up to a blistering 141mph in holding the set, with that early break again proving crucial as he repeated the first set 6-4 scoreline.


It looked like deja vu all over again when Kyrgios took the first two points of the third set, but Broady was able to regroup and a delightful forehand crosscourt winner put the Manchester-based left hander on the board in the third set.


Broady was starting to return more of the Kyrgios serves, as the Australian just struggled slightly to find the very corners of the service box and three winners in a row – the first when returning another underhand serve, allowed Broady to bring up a breakpoint as Kyrgios showed the tension he was feeling despite his two set lead.


Kyrgios roared his delight as a Broady service return floated long and was equally animated as he drew back on level terms.  


The set’s third game ultimately decided the contest with fortune favouring the Canberra hotshot. Broady brought up a game point with patient approach play but couldn’t seal the deal and Kyrgios was able to earn a breakpoint.


Broady looked set to escape the danger when a strong approach shot saw him waiting at the net to put away Kyrgios’ desperate lunge, but the Australian’s shot clipped the net and rebounded wildly over Broady’s head as the Brit could only throw a despairing racquet at the ball and watch it bounce out.
Kyrgios knew that he’d got lucky and was duly apologetic to Broady but he never looked back, dropping only two more points on serve and when a Broady backhand volley hit the net the Australian crowd roared their excitement at the arrival of a match point.


Broady found a first serve on match-point but a brilliant backhand return from Kyrgios brought the Arena crowd to their feet again as he took the third set 6-3 and with it the match.


Liam Broady acquitted himself confidently in a bearpit atmosphere and won the respect of the Melbourne crowd who applauded him warmly as he left the arena leaving Kyrgios to take the further acclaim of his adoring fans who will hope to be back to see him take on Number two seed Daniil Medvedev in the next round