US Open 2016: Naomi Broady says 'northern grit' carried her through first round with Laura Robson

Second round: Naomi Broady
(Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
Paul Newman31 August 2016

Naomi Broady reached the second round of the US Open at the expense of Laura Robson, thanks to what the 26-year-old from Stockport described as her “northern grit”.

The world No 82, who is making her debut at Flushing Meadows, beat Robson 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 after a fierce battle that lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours.

At times there appeared to be little love lost between the two Britons as Broady complained about Robson’s regularly aborted ball tosses on serve, while the former Wimbledon junior champion appeared unhappy when her opponent was taking a drink between each point.

“I’ve played on the whole northern grit thing,” Broady said afterwards. “I don’t know if that’s why I tend to fight well on the court but I enjoy the competitive side. That’s what got me through.”

Robson, who was on an eight-match winning streak in her best run since her return following wrist surgery, was in control until midway through the second set.

The decider was tight but when Robson served at 4-5 Broady went for broke. Having cracked a superb backhand return winner on the first point, Broady broke to love to reach the second round of a Grand Slam event for the second time.

“I’d started cramping and it pushed me to be more aggressive,” Broady said. “I wasn’t going to be able to play many rallies so it was a case of a winner or cramp.”

Robson said: “I put myself in the right position and took my foot off the pedal.”

Broady next faces Agnieszka Radwanska, the world No 4.

US Open Tennis 2016 - In pictures

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Meanwhile, Heather Watson was today awaiting the results of blood tests amid fears she has contracted glandular fever again.

The 24-year-old Briton was beaten 6-2, 7-5 by Dutch qualifier Richel Hogenkamp and said afterwards she felt similar symptoms to those she experienced during a bout of the illness in 2013.

Serena Williams, the world No 1, showed little sign of the shoulder problem that had troubled her in the build-up to the tournament as she beat Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-3.

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