Casper Ruud’s trend of disappointing Wimbledon results has continued this year after he was ousted in the second round by wild card Liam Broady.
The world No.4 won two out of the first three sets played against the home favorite before succumbing to a 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, defeat to an inspired Broady who rallied the crowd behind him. Ruud, who has reached the final of three major events since the start of 2022, has never managed to win back-to-back matches at Wimbledon. Coming into the event he played no warm-up tournaments on the grass.
“I think was a quite good Wimbledon for me. The best one of my career so far, reaching the second round. Losing in a five-setter, that’s how it goes sometimes,” Ruud said afterwards.
“There’s no doubt that I think he’s (Broady) a much better grass court player than myself. He has more experience. His shots are much more effective than mine on grass and he moves probably better.”
Broady was relentless in his shot-making to claim his first-ever win over a top-five player in his career. Furthermore, this is only his fourth-Tour level win of the season. However, he has had success on the lower-level Challenger circuit by winning the Vilnius Open and reaching the final of another event in Lugano.
The marathon encounter on Center Court lasted for more than three-and-a-half hours. Broady, who has been ranked as high as No.116 in the world, broke Ruud six times and fired 56 winners past him. It is the second year in a row that he has reached the third round.
“I would have liked to have played him back home, but Centre Court of Wimbledon will do,” Broady told BBC TV.
“When I went to bed last night, I was having a think of what I’d say if I won the match, but now I’m here I don’t know what to say. “I said to my mum this morning, she doesn’t like watching, but I said I’ve already won £80,000 this week so she can chill out a bit.”
Ruud rapidly drifted away in the final set of his latest match. He has only won two out of six matches played at Wimbledon during four appearances. In contrast, he has scored 19 wins at the French Open.
“I didn’t play on grass until I was 16 years old,” the Norweigan commented on his relationship with the surface.
“It’s just difficult but I’m going to keep trying. I have a goal in my career to try to do well here at some point.’
“It didn’t happen this year but I’ll come back. I love coming here and it’s such a special place.”
Broady will next take on Denis Shapovalov who is the only seeded player remaining in that quarter of the draw. Borna Coric (13) and Roberto Bautista Agut (20) both lost in the first round.
“Denis is a mercurial talent, he’s one of the best players in the world as is Casper,” he said. “He’s won junior Wimbledon. He’s an amazing player. With a crowd like this then why not have a go again.”
It is only the fourth time in history that a wild card has beaten a top-four seed in the men’s draw at Wimbledon.
