Kyle brings Murray’s comeback to grinding halt
THE SEA air may be bracing but it is not always good for you. Sometimes the waves down on the Sussex Coast can be very choppy indeed, as Andy Murray found out yesterday.
His comeback from hip surgery and a year out had been going well this past week, with a narrow defeat to Nick Kyrgios at Queen’s Club and then a fine victory over Stan Wawrinka here at Eastbourne.
But yesterday, in the genteel surroundings of Devonshire Park in the Nature Valley International, the Scot’s comeback came to a crashing halt, as he was thumped 6-4, 6-4 by fellow Brit Kyle Edmund.
The 23-year-old world No18, who claimed Murray’s British No1 title in his absence, went into this game insisting that he fears no one – and went someway to proving that as he smashed an out-of-sorts Murray all over East Sussex.
It was a result that has left a question mark over whether Murray will play at Wimbledon next week. The Scot revealed that he is set to make that decision today – before tomorrow morning’s draw.
Murray said: “There is no risk in me playing tennis right now – it’s just whether I feel I can do myself justice. Two weeks ago I practised with Kyle and didn’t win a game. I have made decent improvements over the past couple of weeks and have obviously been somewhat competitive in the matches I have played. But I don’t want to go out there just to play. I want to be able to compete. If I don’t feel I can do that, I won’t play. If I do, I’ll go for it.
“The past couple of weeks have been positive. This match will influence [my decision]. I have to see how I pull up again today but I don’t anticipate any issues. I will probably make my decision before the draw.”
Edmund said: “It was tough playing Andy. I’ve looked up to him so much and he’s looked after me and been good to me. It’s a bit of a weird feeling.
“It’s incredible what he has done. He’s going to go down as one of the best tennis players of all time so he means a lot to everyone in British tennis. It was strange to beat him but that’s the game we are in.” Murray was impressive against Wawrinka but against an in-form Edmund yesterday he seemed out of sorts.
His serve was broken in the very first game of the match and he never really recovered. Edmund surged into a 3-1 lead and repeatedly defeated the Scot’s attempts to come to the net and dominate. Murray saved two break points in the third game but in the fifth game a forehand error and a double fault handed Edmund his chance. Edmund broke again to lead 5-2 and, though Murray staged a late rally to win the next two games, Edmund served to become only the fourth British player to beat Murray – and the first since Tim Henman in 2006. Jo Konta’s Eastbourne ended in disappointment after a fine start against world No2 Caroline Wozniacki. Wozniacki won 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 as Konta’s erratic form going into Wimbledon continued.