iam Broady and Jan Choinski secured their places in the second round of Wimbledon, but Dan Evans was unable to join them as he completed his match.
Home hopes did not got off to an ideal start on the opening day, as Harriet Dart fell to defeat, but Broady had no such problems as he cruised past his French opponent in a 6-1 6-3 7-5 win on Court 15.
The 29-year-old’s best Grand Slam display came 12 months ago when he reached the third round at SW19, and he will have the opportunity to at least match that when he faces fourth seed Casper Ruud next.
Choinski made it two British men through, as he battled to a 5-7 7-6 6-2 6-4 victory over Dusan Lajovic. The 27-year-old was one of those to be handed a wildcard and he took full advantage, coming from a set down in his first ever main-draw appearance at a Grand Slam.
Evans was two sets down on Monday evening, when bad light suspended play. He and Frenchman Quentin Halys were moved to Centre Court under the roof to complete that match late on Tuesday, and while Evans pulled a set back, it was not enough for the 27th seed as Halys sealed a 6-2 6-3 6-7 6-4 victory.
On Monday, Broady was 4-1 up and well on his way to the first set when he too was delayed as the rain began to fall at Wimbledon. That did little to slow him down as he swiftly completed the job on his return.
The pair exchanged breaks at the start of the second before Broady got his nose in front again, then having to save two break points later in the set to keep it that way. That moved him 5-3 ahead, and he sealed the set with a break in the very next game.
Lestienne broke first in the third but there was an immediate response from Broady, and he had to do just that again later in the set. Break points became a theme of the set, Broady breaking to love at 5-4 down to level it up, before saving two on his own serve to move to within a game of victory.
That guaranteed Broady at least a tie-break but he ensured the match did not go that far, dropping his racket in celebration as Lestienne’s attempted lob floated beyond the baseline.
Choinski meanwhile will face 17th seed Hubert Hurkacz in the second round, after he produced a superb battling display to come from behind and ease through the third and fourth sets in relatively serene fashion.
“I feel absolutely amazing,” Choinski said. “And the crowd was electric tonight at my court.
“Even though it was one of the smaller courts, I felt carried by the crowd, carried by the whole team.”
