I CAN HOLD MY ED UP HIGH
KYLE EDMUND reckons he has caught the “bug” of going deep in Grand Slams as he was backed to do just as well at the French Open.
The British No.2’s stunning run to the Australian Open semi-finals came to an abrupt halt against Marin Cilic.
The Yorkshireman, limping from a groin strain which needed a medical timeout, went down 6-2 7-6 6-2 to the new world No.3.
But the best fortnight of his tennis life left Edmund wanting more. “I am disappointed right now, but can be very happy with the way I’ve gone about things,” he said. “I have played a lot of tough matches and won some tough matches against good players. This type of tournament just gives you the bug to want more. Once you get a taste, I want more.
“I definitely go away from the whole week feeling positive. I have known I have had a good game. It’s just putting it together more often.”
His former coach Greg Rusedski said: “It’s a huge launchpad for him. There is only one way for him – that is to get better and go up the rankings.
“Clay is actually his favourite surface. The future for him is very bright. Watch out for him at the French Open. He likes that surface and he plays very well there.”
Edmund revealed his ambition last year had been to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 – now a realistic aim this season. He has moved from world No.49 to 25. Pat Cash said: “He’ll be a top 10 player for sure. Maybe higher.”
But yesterday was a match too far for the flagging 23-year-old. Cilic, who cried due to injury during the Wimbledon final, had
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the experience and power to grind down his opponent.
Edmund got fired up disputing a call in the second set, but there was no way back after losing the tiebreak.
“He had an extremely tough run to the semis,” said the 2014 US Open champion Cilic. “It left some scars on his body.”
He now faces a race to be fit for next week’s Davis Cup tie in Spain. But as his coach Fredrik Rosengren predicted, he will not rush out to buy a Ferrari with his £500,000 prize money. “I have a Jaguar deal, so I can’t,” he laughed.
Defending champion Roger Federer will play South Korea’s unseeded Chung Hyeon in today’s other semi-final.