New Andy emerging

CAST as a perennial British understudy, Kyle Edmund has finally emerged from Andy Murray’s giant shadow.

Born in South Africa, based in the Bahamas and heroic on Rod Laver Arena against Grigor Dimitrov, the understated Englishman finally grasped what it is like to walk in Murray’s shoes.

Only the sixth British male to reach a grand slam semifinal since 1968, Edmund advanced 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 to richly deserved new status.

Unseeded, and basically unknown to all but tennis purists, Edmund added another dimension to a tournament of surprises.

With either Tennys Sandgren or Hyeon Chung guaranteed to reach the last four, the sport’s underclass is rising against the establishment.

Ranked 49th in the world, and now assured of a climb to about No.25, Edmund will next face either world No.1 Rafael Nadal or Croat sixth seed Marin Cilic tomorrow for a place in Sunday’s final.