By Jake Davies, in Linz
- Naomi Broady defeats Barbora Krejcikova 6-4, 6-1
- Naomi Broady vs Viktoria Kuzmova
AUSTRIA, LINZ – Naomi Broady won her second match in succession in Linz and is now just one win from entering another WTA main draw
Naomi Broady def. Barbora Krejcikova 6-4 6-1
Naomi Broady got off to a tough start by falling an early break down, which was very much a different situation to her opening qualifying match. The Brit found her way back into the match in the eighth game before breaking for the set to claim it 6-4.
Broady explained how she had studied a lot about her opponent in her previous matches, which helped her in the decisive, tricky and arduous situations she found herself in in today’s match:
“I know that she played really well yesterday. I knew that this surface very much suits her game. She has great hands. She has great slice. She does really well in doubles. She’s got great volleys and is really quick on her forehand. At the start of the match she was simply too good.”
“I noticed in her match yesterday that she went up 5-0 in the first set and the other girl got it back to 5-4. So I kept that in the back of my mind when she was playing so well. It was a hard level to obtain so I thought just to stay with her and her level will drop a little bit and it did.”
The second set was a much more comfortable process for the tall-serving Brit, who served exceptionally to close the match and dominated when she got the first serve into play as she closed the match with a 6-1 scoreline.
I talked to Broady about how fast the court was playing this year in Linz and it was interesting to get her insight into the court speed:
“I think it is slow. I think it is because it is indoor, people expect it to be fast, but it is a slow indoor court and it is very low bouncing. The slice is really effective here. I was using my slice from my backhand and forehand especially on the returns. Most indoor courts suits the aggressive players but these courts suit the players that move well.”
Broady also talked about how she views British Tennis and how well British players are playing in the 2017 season:
“It is very up-and-down as it always is. I’m not able to pay attention that much to everyone’s results. I’m not even always on top of Liam’s results (laughs). I think in general it is good to see that there are a few of us up there.
I just noticed Cameron Norrie’s results. He just seems to be winning all these matches at the moment. I think it is great and it gives more British players that push. You see Jo’s (Johanna Konta) results, who is about to finish in the Top 10 and you practice with her then think if she can do it then I can do it.”
Broady vs Viktoria Kuzmova H2H: First meeting
Viktoria Kuzmova is a player to look out for in the future. She was a very impressive junior, but is now trying to apply what she has learned at the highest level of the juniors in order to excel on the main tour of the WTA. The 19-year-old is already making noise here in Linz after knocking out former World No.37 Annika Beck in the first round of qualifying and then backing up that win by dismantling No.1 seed Pauline Parmentier, dropping just the four games in doing so.
Broady had some information to work with when preparing for her next opponent, Kuzmova:
“I actually watched Heather play her in Slovakia but that was on the clay so it is not really relevant to these courts. She is really young. She’s a tall powerful player. I’ll maybe send Heather a text and see if she remembers anything from that match.”
Figuring out the Kuzmova puzzle could be a very tough problem for Broady. The Slovakian goes for her shots, delivers heavy blows from both the forehand and the backhand, but is particularly efficient at hitting offensive shots from the corners of the court.
At just 19 years of age, Kuzmova still has some to learn and things to improve, but to see how far she has come in a short space of time, with hardly any holes or limitations to her game, is quite astounding to say the least. I think if Broady manages to pull off a third win in a row in Linz then it will be the most impressive of the lot.
Prediction: Kuzmova in three-sets
Broady & Kuzmova are scheduled on Centre Court, not before 12:30pm (11:30 BST).
Main Image: Jimmie48 Tennis Photography
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