Nadal is wiped out but Edmund roars into semis
Brit adds world No 3 to his list of scalps . . . and now it’s Cilic in the semi-final as Nadal hobbles out
The last time Marin Cilic played at the Australian Open he was beaten in the second round by a British player wearing shirts he had bought from a local supermarket. That was Dan evans, enfant
terrible of the British game who is currently serving a ban after testing positive for cocaine.
Cilic’s GB opponent this time will be the altogether more sober figure of world No 49 Kyle edmund, who will be attempting to join the list of most unlikely Grand Slam finalists this century when they meet in the last four tomorrow.
edmund earned the right by bravely knocking out world No 3 Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The modest 23-year-old Yorkshireman is the type you might like your daughter to bring home — if you can get past him looking like a mad axeman when it comes to wielding the racket on his fearsome forehand.
It is more than 13 years since Tim henman became the last British man before Andy Murray to make a major semi-final, at the US Open.
Less parochially, edmund will try to become the lowest ranked player to reach a Grand Slam final since Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, then at No 54, got that far 12 years ago at Melbourne Park.
The British No 2 will have to overcome sixth seeded Cilic, who got past an eventually hobbling Rafael Nadal when the Spaniard retired with a leg muscle injury, trailing 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2, 2-0.
edmund is not the type to get carried away but by his standards he could hardly contain his delight after beating a world top five player for the first time in 12 attempts.
‘I am loving it right now, just the way I’m playing. I’m 23, in my first Grand Slam semi-final,’ he said. ‘It was the first time I played on one of the biggest courts in the world and to beat a quality of player like Grigor, of course all these things I’m aware of. They’re great feelings.’
Looking ahead he added: ‘ I’ll believe I can win that, like today and every other match. I’m in a good place. There’s no reason why I can’t go out there and put a good level on the court, enjoy the occasion again. The semis of a Grand Slam, I’ll just try to take it in my stride as best as I can.’
While edmund will be a very different proposition from evans for Cilic, the rangy Croat bears no resemblance to the player humbled 12 months ago.
Back then he was still drained by a late-season finish which saw him lose in the final of the Davis Cup, and described himself as feeling ‘empty’ that day.
It might be tempting to think that Nadal’s injury has offered some kind of free pass, but Wimbledon finalist Cilic — who Andy Murray beat at the same stage here in 2010 — has looked very sharp this fortnight.
he acknowledged that he would be favourite but said: ‘Kyle had an amazing run here. he has played great tennis. he’s very entertaining to watch. Big hitter, great serve, great forehand, plays great on the hard courts.
‘On paper it’s probably easier to play him than Rafa. But he deserves to be here. I cannot influence him much across the net, but I’m going to try to take care of my things on my part of the court.’
edmund took advantage of an unexpectedly wayward performance from Dimitrov. The Bulgarian looked like he had an adverse reaction to his big win over Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round but the big difference was the way edmund stepped it up when he needed to on the big points.
The truth is his four- set win was not a match for the ages, but a hard- earned victory. John Mcenroe said of edmund: ‘he looks much stronger than he has done before. he used to go g away y in these kind of matches hes so he deserves all the props rops he gets.
‘ You’ve got to give e him credit for hanging in there and handling the pressure better. I have been impressed by him and he has certainly got weapons.’
Nadal will go for an MRI scan, having felt t something pull badly ly during his fourth set. After fter the O2 Arena in November, mber, this is the second straight ight tourtournament that he has been unable to complete.
There was another big upset in the women’s draw, as world No 36 elise Mertens thrashed tournament favourite elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0. The 22-year-old Belgian is a serious prospect, and she will face Caroline Wozniacki in the semi-finals, after the Dane beat Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-7, 6-2.