It’s a cruise for Kyle but Andy gets in a tangle
There is one British player who has moved serenely into the third round of the French Open — and it’s not Andy Murray. Step forward Kyle edmund, the 22-year- old Yorkshireman with an un-British liking for clay, who has made it to the last 32 for the loss of no sets and just 18 games.
Jim Courier, whom he somewhat brings to mind, believes he is potentially a top-10 player.
edmund’s progress contrasted with Murray, who was obliged to battle hard again, albeit by stiffer opposition. At one point he became so wound up by Spidercam (the overhead camera operated on a giant pulley) that he threatened to down tools until it stopped moving.
The Scot eventually won through against streaky Slovakian Martin Klizan, 6-7, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 and faces Juan Martin del Potro next in a repeat of two of his most epic matches of 2016.
Most of Murray’s tribulations were caused by the unorthodox style of Klizan, but it was the camera that almost sparked a sit-in. Several times he asked for it to be stationary during his serve before he had a final word with the umpire. ‘I just don’t like it there, it puts me off,’ said Murray, who has had problems with it over the years. ‘I just said, “If it’s there in my ball toss again, I’m going to sit down and wait”. I don’t feel I should have to be asking for it at every change of ends to not be there.’ It was symptomatic of an angst that was evident all match, featuring yet more exchanges with his support box, although in the final analysis this was another improved Murray performance. he admitted later that he still needs to exercise more control over his emotions, and that it is not easy for his support team to absorb his venting. ‘especially when I’m frustrated or down, I don’t always project a lot of positivity on the court,’ he said. ‘Sometimes for my team it’s difficult to know exactly how I’m feeling or what it is that I need.’ Klizan’s fearsome forehand and feathered dropshots could drive
many players to distraction. Murray ultimately produced a satisfactory result, and did particularly well to come back from 2-5 in the fourth and save himself from a decider, with three hours and 35 minutes on the clock.
he will have to improve again versus Del Potro and his falsely depressed ranking of 30. Last year they played out an epic Olympic final and Davis Cup semi-final in Glasgow, splitting the spoils. Murray still regards him among the world’s best.
So it is not impossible that edmund could emerge as the last Brit standing. Yesterday the GB No 2 uncorked copious forehands in taking down Argentina’s renzo Olivo, who had broken French hearts in the first round by ousting Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The reward for a 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 victory is a match against world No 56 Kevin Anderson of South Africa, who ousted Nick Kyrgios.
Asked about Courier’s assessment, edmund responded: ‘I respect him a lot and for him to say that is nice. But it’s down to me to put the work in. It doesn’t just happen overnight to get top 10. It has to come from beating good players. I’m not going to get too ahead of myself.’