Naomi Broady provides Agnieszka Radwanska with a major fright as Brit shines in defeat at US Open 2016

Radwanska shake hands with Broady (right) after their 2016 US Open Women's Singles match
KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images
Paul Newman2 September 2016

The rankings always suggested that Naomi Broady would face a huge task against Agnieszka Radwanska here in the second round of the US Open, but the world No 82 gave the world No 4 a major fright before finally succumbing here last night.

Radwanska won 7-6 6-3, but only after saving four set points in the first set as Broady surprised the 27-year-old Pole with her bold serving and aggressive play. Radwanska, who could yet end this tournament as world No 1, was regularly forced on to the back foot and needed all her athleticism and counter-attacking skills to close out a victory that earned a third-round meeting with Caroline Garcia.

Judy Murray thinks Broady has the potential to be “the John Isner of women’s tennis”. Hitting the ball at up to 121mph, the 26-year-old Briton reaped a regular dividend on her thunderous first serves, though she also showed that there was plenty more to her game.

Broady, who was making her debut in the main draw here, attacked the net at every opportunity and volleyed with confidence. Although she won most of her points by being aggressive, her clever use of drop shots and slices kept Radwanska on her toes.

Having led 5-2 in the first set, Broady had one set point at 6-5 and three more in the tie-break, which Radwanska eventually won 11-9. Broady broke in the opening game of the second set, but was soon 3-2 down. She played her worst service game of the match at 3-4, double-faulting twice in succession, to give Radwanska the chance to serve out for victory.

Radwanska said that Broady had served “unbelievably” and added: “I was just a couple of points better. She definitely pushed me 100 per cent.”

Broady, however, felt she had not played her best and saw the match as a missed opportunity. “I will definitely use this as motivation to work harder,” she added. “The sky’s the limit really because I’ve still got so much to improve on and I’m able to compete with someone in the top five without playing my best tennis.”

Johanna Konta appeared to come through a practice session unscathed following her health scare on Wednesday, when she collapsed in the middle of her victory over Tsvetana Pironkova, and will face Belinda Bencic today.

US Open Tennis 2016 - In pictures

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Serena Williams reached the third round with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Vania King but felt she made too many errors. It was the world No 1’s 306th Grand Slam victory, which equals Martina Navratilova’s Open era record. Williams’ sister, Venus, eased to a 6-2 6-3 win over Julia Goerges.

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