Liam Broady wants to prove he’s far from a Team GB stop-gap after claiming victory in the first round of the men’s singles in Tokyo.
The Stockport star was given a late invitation to the Olympics on world rankings and saw fellow singles contenders Dan Evans and Johanna Konta drop out due to Covid-19.
Broady battled through his opening assignment against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, winning 7-5 6-7 6-2 in searing heat.
"My main concern was not wanting people to look at me and think I'm making up the numbers,” said the 27-year-old.
“I'm here to compete, I'm here to play and to win matches. I was just hoping I'd acclimatise to the time zone and the heat quick enough.
"It's been unbelievable, once in a lifetime. I've never played an event like it and hopefully will do one more time in my career. You never know!
“I'm just taking everything in and really enjoying it."
Fitness was the decisive factor in an attritional clash between the Brit, ranked 142 in the world, and his opponent, the world No.116.
It’s rare that three-set matches go past the three-hour mark but this one did, with the Argentine committing 12 unforced errors and Broady taking advantage.
"It was brutal. What conditions to go for three hours in,” said Broady, whose tilt in Tokyo is being broadcast live on Eurosport and Discovery+ .
“I know he's a tough opponent, but I suppose the only comfort you can take out there is that if you're feeling bad, your opponent's feeling just as bad.
“The third set came down to a battle of wills and thankfully I won that today."
The north-west star will now face Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in the second round, who reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon and beat Roger Federer in the quarters.
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