On paper – and also, in all likelihood, on clay or a hard court, too – there was a gulf in class between Liam Broady and Casper Ruud before their second-round match on Centre Court here on Thursday. On grass, however, it was a very different story, and Broady brilliantly exploited his opponent’s clear uncertainty on the surface to reach the third round for the second year running, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.
Ruud had arrived on court as the No 4 seed, the same as his current world ranking, while Broady started the day 138 places further down the list. The Norwegian has several useful weapons in his armoury that should make him a real force on grass, including a rock-solid forehand and a power-packed serve, and his all-round game had seen him reach the final in three of his last five slams.
