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From Tickton to the top: The rise and rise of Kyle Edmund

  • Posted: Jan 23, 2018
2018 Australian Open
Dates: 15-28 January Venue: Melbourne Park
Coverage: Watch highlights on BBC Two, the BBC Sport website and app. Live commentary on the best matches on BBC Radio 5 live, 5 live sports extra and online.

Kyle Edmund might have been born in South Africa but he endures the traditional problem faced by some Britons in the sun.

“I got a bit burned,” he said after an early round at the Australian Open last week.

“I didn’t put enough sunscreen on. I have to take responsibility – my mum gives me a lecture if I don’t.”

That is about the only misstep from the 23-year-old since he arrived in Melbourne earlier this month.

He opened the tournament with the best win of his career over the 11th seed, followed it with a five-set win in 40C heat in round three, fought back to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final, and upset the world number three to reach the semi-finals.

Edmund now stands one win from a place in the final, and in the process overtaking the injured Andy Murray as British number one.

On the face of it, this is a remarkable leap into new territory that few could have seen coming.

However, the implacable Edmund has made quiet but relentless progress since emerging from a talented group of British boys at the start of the decade.

From South Africa to the Bahamas, via Yorkshire

The chant of “Yorkshire! Yorkshire!” that rang around Rod Laver Arena during the quarter-final did not quite do justice to Edmund’s background.

Born in Johannesburg in 1995 to Welsh father Steven and South African mother Denise, Edmund’s family, including sister Kelly, relocated to Tickton in Yorkshire when he was three years old.

Twenty years later, he lives in the Bahamas, has career earnings of £1.5m – with at least another £500,000 to come at the end of this week – and is on the verge of becoming a famous face in every place where this most globe-trotting sport has a presence.

A talented footballer and cricketer, it was not until the relatively late age – for someone who would go on to become a professional – of 10 years old that Edmund took to tennis.

At 13 he moved to the National Sports Centre at Bisham Abbey, and then on to the LTA’s National Training Centre in Roehampton.

By the age of 16 he was a leading light in Britain’s junior boys’ team which won the prestigious Summer Cup, Winter Cup and Davis Cup, under the captaincy of Greg Rusedski.

“Kyle would just go out there and batter people,” Rusedski later told the Telegraph.

“He has always had this massive forehand, and he would rip his opponents to pieces with it.”

An obvious talent, Edmund would peak at eighth in the junior world rankings, marking him out as one to watch without ever being tagged as the next big thing.

That would serve him well as he made his way into the professional ranks.

  • Read more: I’m loving it right now – Edmund

When Kedders met Muzza

It was when Edmund started racking up titles in the senior ranks as a teenager on the Futures and Challenger tours, that he began to serve notice of a significant career in the making.

A first Davis Cup call-up in 2014 would also prove to be a major milestone, as he came under the wing of one of the best players in the world.

Murray invited Edmund to one of his famously punishing training blocks in Miami at the end of the year, and the Scot has been a huge influence ever since.

Given first-hand experience of what it takes to make the top of the game, the diligent Edmund took note.

On the court, he became only the sixth man in history to make his Davis Cup debut in the final, blasting his way to an unexpected two-set lead over David Goffin before eventually losing in five.

Murray would lead the side to their first victory since 1936 and “Kedders” – as he is known – played the role of youngster in a squad full of jokes and merciless mickey-taking.

“The Davis Cup has been a vehicle to give him confidence and some big stages. From that, he got to spend a lot of time with Andy,” said Great Britain captain Leon Smith.

“I think he has done three pre-seasons with Andy in Miami and one in Dubai, and he has got to rub shoulders with Andy on a regular basis – that can only help a young player coming through.”

A rapid rise years in the making

After rising through the ranks to a career-high of 40th in 2016, Edmund found it harder going as he tried to push on into the highest echelons of the game.

A succession of near-misses against players such as Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic meant he remained without a top-10 win, and 2017 ended with defeat by Jack Sock from 5-1 up in the final set in Vienna, and an end-of-year ranking of 50th.

Edmund had worked with a number of coaches over the years, with Rusedski taking the role for a brief period in 2014, but in the latter stages of 2017 he put together a partnership that appears to be working wonders.

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He brought in Mark Hilton, the British coach who previously worked with Liam Broady and Dan Evans, over the summer and then Swede Fredrik Rosengren later in the year to share the role.

Together, they headed to Nassau in the Bahamas, where Edmund has relocated to train at the new Lleyton Hewitt Academy and enjoy the weather and easy access to American tournaments.

The tax implications did not escape everyone’s notice, and the increased level of scrutiny – good and bad – that is sure to follow his growing success will be another test for Edmund.

There is no doubt the move has paid off in tennis terms, with the work done on his serve, in particular, playing a huge part in his success in Melbourne.

“[Rosengren] is a great guy,” said former British number one Tim Henman.

“He’s got enormous enthusiasm and passion for the game and I think that’s rubbing off on Kyle.

“He’s always had a lot of attributes to his game and it’s just a question of stringing them together.”

Edmund’s route to the semi-finals
First round: Beats Kevin Anderson 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4
Second round: Beats Denis Istomin 6-2 6-2 6-4
Third round: Beats Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-6 (7-0) 3-6 4-6 6-0 7-5
Fourth round: Beats Andreas Seppi 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 6-2 6-3
Quarter-finals: Beats Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4

Liverpool FC, the TT and Ricky Ponting…

Edmund was beaming in front of the media after his first-round win last Monday, and not just because he had beaten 11th seed Kevin Anderson.

As Davis Cup team-mate Jamie Murray had pointed out on social media, Liverpool’s win over Manchester City the day before had been uppermost in Edmund’s mind.

“Good result, wasn’t it?” Edmund smiled in his news conference. “And no Coutinho or Van Dijk.”

His love of Liverpool has extended to an appearance on the club’s TV channel, and there were plans for a visit to the training ground to meet coach Jurgen Klopp.

When on tour, he is able to indulge his love of football with Liverpudlian doubles players Ken and Neal Skupski and Australian John Millman, fellow supporters, while his coaches should provide some interesting conversation – both Rosengren and Hilton are Manchester United fans.

Motorsport is another huge passion, Formula One and TT racing in particular, and sport plays a central role away from the tennis court.

“I was in a restaurant the other day and Ricky Ponting walked in,” said Edmund.

“He’s like one of the biggest Aussie legends. It was like, ‘Oh, there is Ricky Ponting.’ Fidde [Rosengren] had no idea who he was!

“Because I follow sports, I idolise him. I am aware of him and how good they are in sport.”

Apparently Ponting did not recognise Edmund, but that might not be the case the next time they dine in the same restaurant.

The recognition factor in Australia is growing with every win, and a prime-time slot awaits on Australian television for Thursday’s semi-final.

Some England cricketers have already sent messages of support, and he is likely to find himself closer to the centre of attention than ever before when he travels the 12,000 miles home next week.

“Occasionally you get people coming up to you,’ said Edmund. “I imagine probably a bit more now.”

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Dimitrov Praises Edmund, Searches For Silver Lining

  • Posted: Jan 23, 2018

Dimitrov Praises Edmund, Searches For Silver Lining

World No. 3 looks for positives after four-set loss to Edmund

Grigor Dimitrov was nothing but complimentary towards Kyle Edmund after seeing his bid for a first Grand Slam title come to an end at the hands of the British No. 2 at the Australian Open on Tuesday.

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“Kyle deserves all the respect. He deserved to win, simple as that,” said Edmund. “He’s been working so hard the past months. I’ve seen that. There’s no point for me to say what I did wrong… it’s all about him right now. He’s the winner.”

The Brit, who moves into the first Grand Slam semi-final of his career, will face the winner of Rafael Nadal and Marin Cilic in the semi-finals. Having seen most of Edmund’s matches at the tournament, Dimitrov was philosophical about the 23-year-old’s chances of going all the way in Melbourne.

“Once you reach that stage of a Grand Slam, anything can happen really. It’s really how much you want it. These kinds of opportunities don’t always come… so once you have them, try to make the most out of them.

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Taking just a week of rest after winning the Nitto ATP Finals in November 2017, Dimitrov has produced semi-final and quarter-final results at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp and the Australian Open respectively. Now, with a tiring first month of the 2018 ATP World Tour season behind him, the Bulgarian star took a moment to address his immediate emotions after a tough loss.

“It’s hard to hide a disappointment. I am disappointed. It’s how I feel. It hurts, and so it should. Right now I won’t think too rationally, simple as that. I need to give myself a couple of days just to relax a little bit and do things I don’t get a chance to do during the tournament, and reassess the whole Australian trip.

“I think overall it wasn’t a bad one, but [it] certainly wasn’t where I wanted to be. That’s at least the positive thing, that there’s a little bit of a room that I feel I can improve quite a few weeks ahead of me. I need to be smart the way I’m practising now, not to overdo it again, but at the same time make sure I find my rhythm again, my game itself a little bit, the elements when I play. That requires quite a bit of work, but I’m certain I’m going to be able to do it and hopefully produce better tennis as the year progresses.”

The Bulgarian, with experience in turning losses into learning experiences, looked back in his post-match press conference to 12 months ago where he lost a monumental battle with Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. The season he had after that loss gives Dimitrov positivity that he can rise, once again this year, after disappointment in Melbourne.

“It’s hard for me to admit that [positivity], but I have to,” said Dimitrov. I’m very critical with myself. I always want a lot from myself. When I don’t reach a certain goal that I’ve planned, it really drops me down. It makes me sad.

“But those are the moments that I think I’ve learned [from] throughout the years, like last year after [the Australian Open] was tough after I lost the semi-final. But, again, I still had to lift myself up and go on, pick myself up, dust myself off.”

Looking forward to the rest of the season, Dimitrov is focused on moving forward and taking confidence from many hard-fought wins on tough days in both Brisbane and Melbourne.

“The good thing in tennis is there’s always the next week,” said Dimitrov. “You can play every week that you want. But as I said, it’s just the way I’ve been playing throughout all the matches that was really something that I’m happy with, not on my best days being able to win and fight.

“[I am] sad that it came into an end. But there’s always that silver lining out there. I’m just going to try to make sure I see it a little bit more clearly right now.”

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Edmund stuns world number three Dimitrov to reach last four

  • Posted: Jan 23, 2018
2018 Australian Open
Dates: 15-28 January Venue: Melbourne Park
Coverage: Watch highlights on BBC Two, the BBC Sport website and app. Live commentary on the best matches on BBC Radio 5 live, 5 live sports extra and online.

Britain’s Kyle Edmund stunned third seed Grigor Dimitrov to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open.

Edmund was playing in the last eight of a major for the first time but showed few nerves in a 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 win.

The world number 49 becomes only the sixth British man to reach the last four at a Grand Slam in the Open era.

He will play top seed Rafael Nadal or sixth seed Marin Cilic on Thursday for a place in the final.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Edmund.

“With these sort of things, you’re emotionally engaged and you don’t take it in. At the end of a hard match, I just tried to enjoy the moment.

“It’s my first match on this court and it was very special.”

  • Mertens stuns Svitolina to reach semis
  • Live scores, schedule and results
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Edmund joins list of British ‘idols’

Andy Murray, Greg Rusedski, John Lloyd, Roger Taylor and Tim Henman – who was watching from the front row on Rod Laver Arena – are the only other British men to have reached Grand Slam singles semi-finals since tennis turned professional in 1968.

Edmund has long looked the most likely to join that list, but few would have predicted it would happen at this year’s Australian Open.

Ranked 49th and without and ATP final to his name, let alone a title, logic suggested there were several more steps to make before becoming a major contender.

However, the 23-year-old Yorkshireman’s huge forehand is already one of the biggest shots in the game, and marked improvements on serve and return in the off-season appear to have fast-tracked him.

“It’s great,” added Edmund. “You don’t think of those things when you play but it’s something to be proud of.

“As a kid you’re growing up looking at your idols and when you’re here progressing in the best tournament in the world, it’s amazing.”

‘I prayed that last ball was out’

Dimitrov, 26, had won a much-anticipated match against Nick Kyrgios to reach the last eight, but his form had been patchy before then and he failed to impose himself on the powerful Edmund.

The Bulgarian dropped serve in the opening game with a loose backhand and, despite levelling at 3-3, it was a fair reflection of the play when Edmund hammered a forehand return to break again at 5-3.

The serve he had worked so hard on came to his rescue in seeing off three break-back points, and after 42 minutes the outsider was a set up.

A scrappy second set slipped away from Edmund at the start as Dimitrov raced into a 3-0 lead and held on, despite an edgy seventh game that included three double faults.

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Dimitrov’s athleticism was on show with some brilliant defence early in the third set but the more experienced man was the one to crack.

A loose forehand offered up two break points and a seventh double fault of the day gifted Edmund the chance to serve out the set.

When Dimitrov hooked a wild forehand wide to drop serve midway through the fourth set there appeared no way back, but the tension took hold as Edmund handed it straight back with a poor service game.

Again there was an opening for the world number three to take charge, but once more it was Edmund who looked the calmer with victory in his sights.

He pressed for the break in game seven and then upped the pressure in game nine, opening with a hooked forehand winner followed by a backhand arrowed down the line.

A first break point slipped way, but Edmund got his racquet on a good serve to float back a return on the second, and a desperate Dimitrov slammed his forehand into the net.

With Swedish coach Fredrik Rosengren a bundle of nerves in the stands, the Briton was thankful for a Dimitrov error at 15-30 and followed up with an ace.

There was one final moment of drama on match point when Edmund was made to wait – before Hawkeye eventually confirmed that Dimitrov had sent the ball long.

“He’s played hard matches, especially against Nick Kyrgios, and I knew it was going to be tough,” said Edmund.

“I had a bit of a dip and I was playing quite poor tennis at times. But I held my nerve and prayed that last ball was out.”

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Murray Coming Back 'Soon'

  • Posted: Jan 23, 2018

Murray Coming Back ‘Soon’

Scot underwent hip surgery earlier this month

Former World No. 1 Andy Murray says he’ll be back “Soon.. Very soon” and that rehab on his hip is going “Really well.. Much better than I expected so far”.

The five-time Australian Open finalist was recently suffering from jet lag after his aborted trip Down Under and hosted a Twitter Q&A, #AskAndy.

The Scot received a fair number of non-tennis questions, such as “Will there ever be a boy born who can swim faster than a shark?” To which the witty Brit Murray responded, “I don’t know.. But if I crash land in a jungle will I be able to eat my own shoe?”

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But Murray also entertained some tennis questions, including a couple about his right hip. He underwent surgery on 8 January in Melbourne after planning on competing in the 2018 Australian Open.

The 30-year-old has not played a match since 12 July at 2017 Wimbledon, where he lost to Sam Querrey of the U.S. in the quarter-finals. To be fair, Murray did say, “Soon. Very soon,” with a wink.

He watches what he eats while enduring rehab in London. Murray said he enjoys “pancakes and Nutella for breakfast but I’m good the rest of the day.” He’s also spending a lot more time with his mum, Judy Murray, which seems to be going OK.

And Murray made a very important announcement about Rafael Nadal’s fashion.

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Nadal Continues Historical Pursuit Against Cilic

  • Posted: Jan 22, 2018

Nadal Continues Historical Pursuit Against Cilic

Nadal leads the pair’s FedEx ATP Head2Head 5-1

It was a historic resurgence in 2017 for Rafael Nadal, who became the oldest player in history to finish atop the ATP Rankings, claiming the year-end top spot for the fourth time in his career at age 31. But the top seed can make more history at Melbourne Park, as he tries to become the first player in the Open Era to win all four Grand Slam titles twice, which he can finish off with a win at this Australian Open.

But the Spaniard will have his work cut out for him in the quarter-finals against one of the other two Grand Slam champions left in the draw — No. 6 seed Marin Cilic.

View FedEx ATP Head2Head for the following quarter-finals match-ups at the Australian Open & vote for the players you think will win! 
Dimitrov v Edmund  |  Nadal v Cilic  |  Federer v Berdych

“I know I’m going to have a tough opponent in front now [in] Cilic. I need to play aggressive and play well. That’s what I’m going to try,” Nadal said after a four-set win in the fourth round against No. 24 seed Diego Schwartzman. “All the matches are tough, and if you are in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, you can’t expect an easy match. Against Marin will be a tough one, but at the same time, it’s a beautiful match to play against a great player. We know each other.”

The pair have played six times, with Nadal leading their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 5-1. The World No. 1 has triumphed in each of their past five meetings, winning 11 of those 12 sets.

FedEx ATP Head2Head Series: Rafael Nadal vs. Marin Cilic

 Year Event  Round Winner Score
 2017  Rolex Shanghai Masters  SF  Rafael Nadal  7-5, 7-6(3)
 2017  Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC  SF  Rafael Nadal  6-1, 6-2
 2015  Swiss Indoors Basel  QF  Rafael Nadal  4-6, 6-3, 6-3
 2011  Internazionali BNL D’Italia  QF  Rafael Nadal  6-1, 6-3
 2011  Australian Open  R16  Rafael Nadal  6-2, 6-4, 6-3 
 2009  China Open  SF  Marin Cilic  6-1, 6-3

“Throughout my career, I knew that if I’m playing well, if I’m top of my game, that I can challenge most of the guys on the tour,” Cilic said after his own fourth-round victory when asked about facing a tough opponent like Nadal. “I believe in my own game, I believe in what I’m doing. I think I’m moving the right direction. You know, it’s obviously a big challenge playing them, but that’s what we also work for in training.”

Nadal defeated Cilic twice last season, with both matches coming on hard court (Acapulco, Shanghai). But with that being said, both players have proven to be in good form in Melbourne, with the top seed dropping just one set thus far and the sixth seed only losing two sets.

 

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But Nadal says that playing a tough opponent like Cilic is not all that different from other matches.

“[Whomever I play] today is the most dangerous player that I can play against, because [they are] the one that I’m going to play [today],” Nadal said.

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Cilic is as dangerous as they come in the quarter-finals of a major, though, having won the 2014 US Open and advancing to the final at Wimbledon last year. The Croatian has a powerful baseline game accompanied by a booming serve to trouble anyone in the world when he is on form. And he is hungry for more success, too.

“My goal in this year is to win a Grand Slam. One or more would be good,” said a smiling Cilic. “Last year I reached No. 4 and No. 5, finished season at the No. 6 [in the ATP Rankings]. You know, it could have been in Top 5, as well. But looking at this year, my goal is to finish in the Top 5. It’s a big challenge, but I’m improving every single year. That’s a challenge that I want to succeed in.”

His first major challenge in pursuing that goal will be across the net on Rod Laver Arena Tuesday, when he faces Nadal for a spot in the semi-finals.

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