Naomi Broady loses to Agnieszka Radwanska at US Open
Saturday 3 September 2016 11:59, UK
Britain's Naomi Broady gave world No 4 Agnieszka Radwanska an almighty scare but fell just short in the second round of the US Open.
Broady led 5-2 and spurned four set points in the first set at Flushing Meadows as Radwanska drew on all her experience to win 7-6 (11/9) 6-3.
This was only the second time Broady had ever reached round two of a Grand Slam, and the 26-year-old left to a rousing reception after an impressive display.
Broady has already climbed to 82nd in the world this year and with her booming serve and natural athleticism, she has the potential to rise even higher.
Born in Stockport, she saluted her "northern grit" after beating compatriot Laura Robson in round one and Broady showed no signs of nerves against Radwanska, a former world No 2 and Australian Open semi-finalist this year.
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Broady won all of the first six points of the match and then broke with a thundering smash to move 3-1 and 5-2 ahead.
Serving for the set, however, Broady flinched, placing a simple volley into the net and double faulting, either side of a challenged call that fell agonisingly in her opponent's favour.
Radwanska broke and then won two more games to level at 5-5 but Broady dug deep, holding serve and opening up her first set point at 6-5, only for the Pole to force a tie-break.
Radwanska pulled 5-2 clear after scampering to a cute Broady volley and firing it down the line, but back Broady came again, winning four in a row to lead 6-5.
It was the second of four Broady set points but each time Radwanska gave nothing away and when her time came, the Briton was more generous, ballooning a forehand long to hand away the set.
Broady certainly did not crumble, even breaking in the second to lead 2-0, but Radwanska soon found her groove as she won six out of the next seven games to seal a hard-fought triumph.
