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Noami Broady (c) Jimmie48 Tennis Photography

Naomi Broady loses in qualifying but makes the main draw as lucky loser

Jake Davies
Tennis

By Jake Davies, in Linz

  • Viktoria Kuzmova defeats Naomi Broady 7-5, 6-2
  • Broady gets through as lucky loser after Camila Giorgi withdraws from the tournament.
LINZ, AUSTRIA – A day of mixed fortunes for Naomi Broady who countered the disappointment of losing in the final round of qualification with a main draw spot as a lucky loser.

 

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Viktoria Kuzmova defeats Naomi Broady 7-5, 6-2

We as fans of British sport like to get behind the underdog. We like to cheer for the unsung heroes, but what we also like to see is players that are determined to make every sprint, chase every ball and fight through the pain barrier for their goals and that is what Naomi Broady did in today’s loss to Viktoria Kuzmova.

The British No.3, who is now ranked World No.128, was trying to find the perfect formula in order to qualify for another WTA main draw, but she fell short against an inspired, motivated Slovakian opponent, who was seeing the ball finely off both the forehand and backhand.

Broady took a medical time out after just five games in the first set, where it looked like she was struggling with her left leg. As Broady discussed after her second round of qualifying, the movement on this particular surface is key and the moment that you are not feeling at one hundred percent, the other girls on the tour will take advantage of those frailties.

The great news for Broady is that moments after finishing her match she learned that she got in as a lucky loser decided by lot, which gives her another opportunity to gain some much-needed ranking points at WTA level.

This opportunity really could not have come at a better time for the Brit, who gets that one more shot to challenge some of the very best in the main draw of a WTA event, her first since Quebec City earlier this year.

 

Broady [LL] vs Viktoriya Tomova [Q] H2H: Tomova leads 1-0

The talking point really is how Broady’s left leg will hold up in her first round match. Would she have had the necessary time to recover in order to heal that particular, worrisome injury in time for the first round clash?

Broady faces the qualifier Viktoriya Tomova. Tomova has been winning a lot of matches of late. She won the title in a $25k event in her home tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, but the question is whether she can produce quality, consistent performances in the big leagues of the WTA. This is only the first time she has qualified this season for a WTA main draw, so it is a big moment in her career.

Tomova is a fiery player that makes her opponent aware that she is going to fight for every ball. In her last round of qualifying, she covered the court tremendously and forced many errors through her tireless work ethic from the back of the court.

The key factors for Broady in this match-up is to win as many points because of her first serve and to try to shorten the rallies as much as possible as a way of staying out of the clutches of her Bulgarian opponent, who will want to see Broady work very hard for the entirety of the match.

Prediction: Tomova in three sets

Broady & Tomova are scheduled on Court One, not before 1:30pm (12:30pm BST).

Main Image: Jimmie48 Tennis Photography

 

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