TR A S H T A L K

Edmund’s finally ready to clean up on the grass

ECO WARRIOR Kyle Edmund told Wimbledon’s litter bugs to clean up their act after completing only his second win on the strawberry fields of SW19.

Britain’s No.1 looked every inch the new Andy Murray – our only survivor in the men’s draw after the first round – as he wiped the floor with Aussie Alex Bolt in straight sets.

But Edmund is not amused by the empty water bottles and assorted debris left scattered around the practice courts by the players.

What a load of rubbish? Not Edmund, who was tidier than the Wombles of nearby Wimbledon Common (ask your parents, kids) as he put away qualifier Bolt 6-2 6-3 7-5 in 1hr 43mins on No.1 Court. What a load of rubbish? While the other Brits suffered a familiar fate, the Tickton Thunderbolt’s 131mph serve was in rollicking good order.

What a load of rubbish? But the man who ended Murray’s 12-year reign as Britain’s top dog aimed a swipe at junk and disorderly rivals who leave the All England Club’s practice courts looking like Glastonbury after the festival.edmund said: “It’s been a problem at every tournament – players are too lazy to pick up their water bottles, towels and balls, myself included. It’s no good.

“We obviously we should look after our rubbish. It’s just human beings being lazy.

“There was a sketch at Monte Carlo, a players’ party, where they came on and had a hit – and then they threw away their water bottles and a banana skin. Someone else came on and tripped over the banana skin.”

Edmund’s only previous win at Wimbledon was against fellow Brit Alex Ward, ranked No.869 in the world, in last year’s first round. He normally takes to grass about as enthusiastically as ducks to orange sauce, but when his serve is hitting the lines and his forehand packs a punch, there is no reason why he should not prosper on this surface.

Edmund, 23, said: “When you have a big serve, you’ve got to use that to your advantage, especially on a grass court.

“Regardless of how many Brits are here or whether Andy is around, there’s been more attention on me. But my run to the Australian Open semi-final probably helps.”