Andy Murray triumphed in the first all-British quarter-final of the Open era at the Aegon Championships - but not before Kyle Edmund demonstrated why the world No.2 believes he is “the future of tennis in Britain.”
As the British No.2 and the world No.85, ‘prospect’ is arguably no longer an adequate term to describe the 21-year-old Edmund.
And his performance against the only man above him in the British rankings demonstrated why there is such positivity surrounding the young man from Yorkshire.
After Murray took a competitive first set 6-4, he produced a moment of anxiety for all present by falling to the turf in the second set, clutching his groin in some distress.
Despite recovering, the Scot dropped the second set 6-3, but it was as much to do with Edmund’s quality of play as any potential discomfort to Murray.
Power is increasingly becoming Edmund’s signature, with one serve clocked at 130mph as it flashed past Murray, one of the best returners the game.
But if pace of shot is Edmund’s hallmark, then nous and game-management are two of Murray’s.
It's @Rado highlights time from a sensational day of action at the #AegonChampionships!https://t.co/RVCocb1uGQ
— British Tennis (@BritishTennis) June 17, 2016
A two-time Grand Slam finalist this year, Murray upped his game for the remaining 29 minutes of the match, blowing Edmund away 6-1 in the decider with an exemplary display of proactive tennis.
“He just stepped up his level,” said Edmund, who had his preparations somewhat disrupted by the delivery of a dishwasher at 6.30am.
“I lost a bit of confidence with the moment and stuff. But I was pleased with the way I dealt with it [the occasion].
“Each time it comes I’m gaining more and more experience.”
Edmund will now move into the top 70 after his showing at Queen’s, and while Murray has never played another Brit at Wimbledon, with the field behind him quickly improving, there’s every chance that duck could be broken this summer.
Murray’s next opponent will be the 2012 champion Marin Cilic who, under the watchful eye of Goran Ivanisevic, rallied from a first set tiebreak loss to defeat the American Steve Johnson.
Having flown somewhat under the radar at Queen’s, Bernard Tomic has found his way to the semi-finals, defeating Gilles Muller despite suffering back spasms before the match.
The Australian has beaten Fernando Verdasco and Kevin Anderson en route to the semis, but will now face his stiffest test against Milos Raonic, who continued his strong start to the John McEnroe era by sweeping aside Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1, 6-4.
