Briton Broady falls to Goffin

01 July 2015 12:46

Liam Broady's Wimbledon adventure is over for another year after the British hope was outgunned in straight sets by 16th seed David Goffin.

British tennis' soap opera family now has no representatives left in the main draw, Broady's 7-6 (7/3) 6-1 6-1 second-round defeat following sister Naomi's first-round exit.

World number 15 Goffin's superior craft and baseline acumen proved too much for Manchester's Broady, who was conceding 167 places in the rankings.

Broady had battled back from two sets down to see off Australia's 'Mad Dog' Marinko Matosevic in a five-set first-round thriller, but there was to be no repeat on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old upset the odds to see off Matosevic for his first-ever Wimbledon victory and ensure Britain had four men in the second round for the first time since 2006.

But he then became the first of that quartet to fall by the wayside in what ultimately proved a totally one-sided affair.

Broady battled to stay with his far superior opponent to take the first set to a tie break, but Goffin always looked to be biding his time to take his chances.

Once the crafty Belgian had broken the home hope's initial resolve, it was plain sailing.

Not even a big Wimbledon breakthrough has been able to end Broady's feud with his estranged father Simon this week, but the British public have warmed quickly to his tenacity and he will depart SW19 in good spirits.

Sister Naomi cheered Liam on from the stands, but was unable to provide the same good luck charm she did on Monday.

Liam Broady's rift with his father dates back three years, to his decision to return under the Lawn Tennis Association's (LTA) coaching umbrella.

Simon Broady refuses to forgive the LTA for imposing a ban on a teenage Naomi when pictures of her draped over a condom machine surfaced on social media eight years ago.

Liam Broady has already admitted he does not expect his grand slam exploits to alter his family situation, but his £47,000 winnings will stop him having to sleep on friends' couches while on tour.

Family feuds aside this was another gutsy effort, but Broady was comfortably outclassed in the end.

Only in Wimbledon's environs could a staff announcement that interrupted play carry echoes of hit family murder-mystery board game Cluedo.

The demand for the secretary to attend the conservatory was later cancelled as the players were again momentarily distracted.

When it came to the action on the lawns however, any amateur sleuth could work out where the day's metaphorical murder was taking place.

Amid the cheers, urges and exhortations of a Brit-friendly Court Three, Broady was unable to fend off Goffin's perfectly executed grand slam grass victory.

Broady was under pressure from the off, even on his own serve, forced to plough through four deuces to hold at four games apiece.

The British man ground the set to a tie-break, only for Goffin to raise his level and take control.

The crux of the match came with Broady already a break down and battling to hold serve in the second set.

The Stockport native was forced through eight deuces before Goffin converted his sixth break point, easing home thereafter.

Broady fended off two match points to post a game on the third-set board, but that only ushered in Goffin to serve out the match.

Source: PA