Wimbledon 2015: Wildcard Liam Broady seals brilliant comeback win over Marinko Matosevic to book place in second round

Broady won 5-7 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-3

(Getty Images)

Liam Broady delivered the first British victory at Wimbledon with a fighting comeback victory over Australia’s Marinko Matosevic. The 21-year-old from Stockport, playing his first match at a Grand Slam tournament, won 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 to earn a second-round meeting with Belgium’s David Goffin, who beat Horacio Zeballos 7-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Broady, the world No 182, went within one victory of qualifying for the Australian Open at the start of this year, but this was his first appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam event. He more than justified the All England Club’s decision to grant him a wild card with a spirited display.

Matosevic is ranked No 138 in the world but has plenty of experience. The 30-year-old has been playing Grand Slam tournaments since 2010 and was briefly Australian No 1.

Broady has been treading water since his fine start to the year but this victory will see him make progress up the world rankings. Even if he loses in the next round he is likely to climb to a career-high position around No 160 after Wimbledon.

The Briton was runner-up in the boys’ event here four years ago, but this was his first appearance in the main draw at the All England Club. He was knocked out in the qualifying tournament in both 2011 and 2012.

In front of a noisy crowd on Court 18 Broady played well enough in the first two sets, but in both he paid for one poor service game. At 5-5 in the first set he was broken to love, though he had chances to break back in the following game. However, Matosevic served his way out of trouble from 15-40 down, hit a volleyed winner to save a third break point and went on to take the set in 42 minutes.

The second set followed a similar pattern. There was little to choose between the two men until Matosevic broke to lead 5-4 and then served out for the set.

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Broady, however, refused to let his spirits dip and was soon 3-0 up in the third set. By the end of the set his growing confidence was evident as he converted his first set point with a serve-volley winner.

With the crowd getting behind him, the Briton made another early break at the start of the fourth set. He then dug himself out of trouble when he went 0-30 down in the third game and broke again before serving out to level the match.

Just when it seemed Matosevic might be on the way out, the big Australian went 2-0 up at the start of the decider. Broady, however, broke back immediately, forcing Matosevic into a volley error on break point. At 3-3 the Briton made the decisive break of the match as Matosevic netted a forehand.

When Matosevic served at 3-5 Broady put a backhand wide on his first match point but on the second the Australian had to bend for a low volley which he put wide. Broady dropped his racket to the floor in celebration before jumping for joy. It was a memorable way to start a Wimbledon career.