Liam Broady is British number three after breaking into world 200

Liam Broady has moved up to 199 in the world rankings after reaching his first final on the second-tier Challenger level

Liam Broady has moved to number three in the British men's tennis rankings after breaking into the world's top 200 players for the first time.

Broady, 20, has climbed almost 200 places to 199 in four months after reaching his first Challenger final, losing to Australian James Duckworth.

He is now behind only Andy Murray and James Ward in the British ranks.

"My tennis has progressed massively in certain areas and I feel I deserve to be here now, and even higher," he said.

Broady, who was runner-up in the Wimbledon juniors in 2011, was ranked at number 395 in the world in July.

But wins against former top-15 player Robby Ginepri in September and a first-round victory against Tim Smyczek (97) in the ATP Challenger Tour helped Broady move up the ranks.

He has now moved above fellow Britons Kyle Edmund, Edward Corrie and Dan Evans.

"You realise everyone's human and everyone's got their weaknesses," Broady added.

"It's having the confidence to know that you can compete with these players, and not just get close to them but actually beat them, because there's a big difference.

"That was a big mental barrier for me to overcome."