Goodall hopes to learn from loss

WIMBLEDON
Date: 22 June - 5 July
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I did not take my chances - Goodall

By Phil Maiden
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Josh Goodall hopes he can learn to take his chances after losing to Michael Llodra in the first round at Wimbledon.

The 23-year-old, from Basingstoke, pushed the Frenchman all the way before eventually going out in five sets, in a match that was played over two days.

"I had my chances," he told BBC Sport. "In the fifth set I had a break point then I missed a lob I should have made.

"That's the difference at this level, you have to take those chances against these guys."

The world number 188, who had begun his clash with Llodra on Monday night, said he enjoyed his experience of playing on the newly refurbished Court Two for the first time.

"It was an unbelievable atmosphere," he said. "It's nice to play in those types of matches but I'm obviously disappointed to come up on the losing end of it.

"I slipped and hurt my knee a little bit but it wasn't a match full of long rallies, it was more about serving and volleying, it wasn't too strenuous."

I need to go to the next few tournaments and make sure I play as well as I am at the moment Josh Goodall

And the Brit believes he can move up the rankings if he builds on his showing against the Frenchman.

"I spoke to my coach and we talked about me being a bit more ruthless with some of my shots and going for these chances," he added.

"The good news is I am creating these chances but at the moment I'm not really taking them at this level. I think when I do I'm going to jump up quite high in the rankings.

"This isn't a regular tournament for me, at this level. So I need to go to the next few tournaments and make sure I play as well as I am at the moment.

"If I work on the areas I discussed I can definitely play on the main tour regularly."