EDMUND DOWNS DJOKOVIC TO CRACK TOP 20
ANDY MURRAY may be struggling but there remains a British player inhabiting the world’s top 20 and capable of beating Novak Djokovic. Kyle Edmund’s ranking should move into the teens next week after a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 defeat of the Serb yesterday to make the third round of the Madrid Open, a Masters-level event. It is the biggest scalp of the 23-year-old Yorkshireman’s career and now he faces Belgium’s David Goffin. While Djokovic is still not the force of two years ago, he was not far from it in the second set and until the latter stages of the decider. He is a formidable presence at the other end of the court and ranked No 12 in the world, so this was a fine effort from Edmund. The British No 1 looked the most convincing he has been since reaching the Australian Open semi-final, with his backhand holding up well against a searching examination. ‘It was a great experience to beat Novak, he is a legend of the game,’ said Edmund. ‘After the semis of Australia I thought it is time to try to beat these guys. ‘After Melbourne it was a goal of mine to make the top 20. I’m very pleased with the situation I’m in. I didn’t have a great run of results after Australia but this was a realistic target.’ As Djokovic remarked afterwards, it was Edmund who played better in the decisive moments, such as when he recovered to hold serve from 0-40 down at 2-2 in the decider. er. He got a fortunate bad bounce when breaking for 5-3 and then nervelessly served the match out to love. Meanwhile, the likelihood of Serena Williams playing the French Open seems to be receding after she pulled out of next week’s Italian Open. It is hard to see the American, who has been practising in France but has not played a tournament since late March, coming back k to Roland Garros without any y preparation on clay following g the hiatus in her career to give birth.