LIAM BROADY has been given the all-clear to play Wimbledon following a bout of severe concussion.
The Stockport thrower, 30, describes the past six months as “the most frustrating of my life” as he dealt with an ankle issue and then a freak head injury.
Broady – who plays local league pal Botic van de Zandschulp today – accidentally smacked his head against the boot door of his car in Surbiton in June.
The British No6, who had two weeks off from hitting balls, explained: “It has been like bailing water out of a sinking ship, trying to get fit and sorting out my head injury. I’m glad I have made it in one piece.
“I was in a NCP car park. There was a low-hanging metal pipe, so I paused the electric boot halfway up.
“As I opened the boot, a load of tennis balls fell out, and as I stood back up after picking them up, I knocked my head. It hurt so much.
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“The next day I practised and then after 45 minutes, I got a migraine. My eyes went a bit funny. I couldn’t really see.
“I checked my phone and it was like I had dyslexia. I couldn’t read words. I was slurring my speech. I felt nauseous. A bizarre experience.
“A big fear of rushing back too soon was having side-effects that could carry on for years. I was as careful as I could be.
“It has been a chaotic few weeks for sure.
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“Everyone, including my sister and mum, thought I was joking and not serious when I put it on Twitter. Honesty is the best policy.
“We do baseline SCAT5 tests at the National Tennis Centre for concussion. I failed the first one.
“After 10-12 days, I had some pretty intense symptoms. I have the odd bit of dizziness now but I’m OK. I was worried I might miss Wimbledon.”
Broady reached the third round last year – he knocked out No4 seed Casper Ruud in five sets – and will hope to repeat that run for a second year running.
He said: “The last few weeks I have felt odd. So many aches and pains. I haven’t played as much as I would have liked.
“It’s been the most frustrating six months of my life. I felt like I was playing the best tennis of my career.
PRIZE MONEY for the 2024 Wimbledon Championships is a new record – and puts the grass-court Slam at the top of the tree.
The All England Club will dish out £50million across all the events – an increase of £5.3m and 11.9 per cent on last year, where singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Marketa Vondrousova picked up £2.35m each.
However, the king and queen of grass this July will collect an extra £350,000 – taking the winner’s earnings to £2.7m.
Here is the breakdown for the 2024 Wimbledon singles prize money:
“I know Botic really well, we play on the same French club league side. The first time we played was Futures in Bolton.
“So, Bolton to Wimbledon in a few years, which is nice.
“He knows my game as much as me. I have massive respect for him.
“I’m very comfortable at Wimbledon, this is my home, I have had some great moments and tough moments.
“I know how this tournament works as well as anyone. As long as the body holds, which I feel it will, it should be a great match.”
