Stockport’s very own Liam Broady has cruised his way into the second round of Wimbledon 2023, beating his first opponent in straight sets for the first time at the tournament.
Broady, 29, beat Frenchman and world number 74 Constant Lestienne by 6-3, 6-1 7-5 in the opening round of this year’s Wimbledon Championships, doing so in fine fashion.
Hailing from the Heaton Chapel area of the town — just about a mile down the road from where fellow Stopfordian and British tennis legend Fred Perry grew up — Broady is the only English tennis player currently flying the flag for Greater Manchester at this year’s Grand Slam.
Winning the opening set in just 27 minutes, here’s the moment he secured his place in the next round, as captured by his coach David Sammel:
Liam Broady made it to the third round at Wimbledon in 2022 but is hoping to go even further this year.
Speaking to BBC Sport Manchester after the convincing victory, the British no.5 said remarked how he’d had a pretty “up and down year” so far, but a strong practice on Monday night helped him go into the opening match with some much-needed momentum.
ADVERTISEMENT
Broady went on to add that it was probably “one of the best performances [he’s] had at Wimbledon”, especially given the difficulty of his opponent and he managed it in straight sets.
However, as he told the Lawn Tennis Association, the wind out on-court meant that it wasn’t as comfortable as perhaps he made it look and his confidence hadn’t been as high as it was “five or six months ago” when he says he was “on the best run of form in [his] career”.
ADVERTISEMENT
Nevertheless, having now come back from an injury and started the sport’s biggest major off in style this year, he is now set to face the world no.4 in Norway’s Caspar Ruud in the second round and is hoping for a career-best finish this time around.
"He's stood next to me, so I won't speak too loud" 🤣
Elsewhere in the competition, another compatriot managed a momentous victory in the opening rounds as Jodie Burrage, who nearly had quit the sport a few years ago, finally managed to put injury woes behind her and win at Wimbledon for the first time, breaking down in tears in the post-match interview.
Fellow Brit Jan Choinski also progressed into the second round of his first Grand Slam as the wildcard marked his debut with an equally impressive win by 5-7 7-6 (4) 6-2 6-2.
ADVERTISEMENT
Harriet Dart and Katie Swan sadly fell at the first hurdle but with Andy Murray getting underway against countryman Ryan Peniston on Tuesday afternoon, not to mention Katie Boulter — who recently won her first WTA Tour title in Nottingham last month — there’s still plenty of British talent on show this year.
The question is, who’s going to go the furthest? To be honest, all we want is another big celebration from big Blue, Broady, following the treble — maybe the Haaland this time?
Featured Image — Liam Broady (via Instagram)/ATP Tour (via Twitter)
Sport
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
Danny Jones -
4th July 2023 
