KYLE THE LAST MAN STANDING
Edmund is carrying home hopes...just like Murray and Henman
From Tim Henman to Andy murray to Kyle Edmund — the weighty baton containing British male hopes at Wimbledon is passed on.
Carrying it is a dubious privilege, but the new British No 1 made light of the duty yesterday as he eased through to the second round.
It was just as well Edmund won. moments after he finished off Australian Alex Bolt 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 on Court No 1, across the way on No 18 Jay Clarke was edged out of a fifth- set decider by Ernests Gulbis, after putting up an admirable fight.
Clarke is only 19 and undoubtedly on his way up, but it will be some time — if ever — before he reaches the kind of level which will see him as a realistic prospect for making the second week of the Championships. When the Derby teenager shook hands just before 3pm on the second day it meant that Edmund was the last British man left standing.
It was no use looking to murray, who had been due to meet Benoit Paire yesterday. Instead, he has been practising on a hard court in nearby raynes Park for upcoming tournaments in North America.
Dan Evans might have been capable of winning a few rounds, but he ran out of gas after being made to qualify as a lingering punishment for having served a suspension after his social use of cocaine.
So it falls to Edmund (right) to save the blushes of the Lawn Tennis Association and maintain a level of parochial interest in the men’s singles. There must be a decent chance he will go further, as his next opponent is qualifier Bradley Klahn of the US.
The Wimbledon hierarchy professes itself to be relaxed about not having a British presence deep in the tournament, and is well aware it will sell out regardless. But others would argue that the tournament will be diminished by the lack of domestic challengers.
Not that Edmund, or Jo Konta for that matter, can afford to let themselves be burdened by such questions as they try to shut out the pressures of performing on by far the biggest stage tennis has in this country.
People should not get too carried away when it comes to Edmund’s chances, especially on grass. This was only his second win at SW19 and he has only played once on the Centre Court, in 2017.
In temperament Edmund is closer to Henman than murray, and he is phlegmatic about any extra pressures. ‘regardless of how many Brits are here, or if Andy is around, there’s probably been a bit more attention,’ he said. ‘I’ve had heaps more off-court stuff to do. It’s tough to say if it was because of Andy not being here or other Brits. I’ve just had that in general since the Australian open, it’s part and parcel of professional sport.
‘It’s not like I’m a big deal or anything like that. I get asked for a few more selfies, autographs, especially around this time of year.’
There was never any danger that Edmund, a Liverpool fan, was going to be late back to the apartment he owns nearby to watch the football.
The one hitch was being broken early in the third set, which followed him winning all 24 points in the first two on the occasions he landed in his first serve.
In his serve and his ferocious forehand he has serious weapons, and they are reinforced by a much-improved backhand. His movement is not the silkiest, but the whole package should mean that the second week of Grand Slams in singles should not be a Brit-free zone too often, murray or not.