BUILDING UPAN ED OF STEAM
Super Edmund to face Dimitrov in his first Slam quarter-final but the Brit No.2 insists he fears nothing and this is just the start
COMEBACK Kid Kyle Edmund is ready to go all the way at the Australian Open after setting up a glamour quarter-final clash with Grigor Dimitrov.
The British No.2 reached the last eight of a Grand Slam for a first time by staging another stirring fightback against Italian Andreas Seppi.
The rising star, 23, is the first British man apart from Andy Murray to reach the last eight in Melbourne since John Lloyd on the grass back in 1985 – and the first at any Slam since Tim Henman 14 years ago.
Edmund, who is now guaranteed to climb up to a career-high of world No.35, is also on course to soon overtake the Olympic champion as British No.1.
But more immmediately the South African-born Yorkshireman wants more Grand Slam glory against the world No.3.
“Through to my first quarterfinal – I am very happy,” said Edmund. “But it’s not like I
have won anything.
Do I believe I can win a Slam? You have to believe it.
“That’s why I’m in the quarter-finals, because every time I step on the court and I’m playing, I believe I’m going to win. So it’s no different now.”
Edmund had already come from behind to beat Kevin Anderson and Nikoloz Basilashvili earlier in the tournament – and against world No.76 Seppi he again fell a set and a break down. He also needed a medical time-out for treatment on his shoulder at the end of the first set.
But in lower temperatures than on Friday, Edmund used his devastating forehand to burn his 33-year-old opponent as he struck 63 winners to win 6-7 7-5 6-2 6-3. “It’s always good to see when results come, because that’s when it really shows the work is paying off,” Edmund said.
“You can see you’re improving, but nothing really beats winning and results.
“The belief just obviously grows as you get better results and go further in tournaments. I’m playing well, feeling good and I want to keep pushing on as well as I can.”
Dimitrov, the boyfriend of celebrity Nicole Scherzinger, broke Aussie hearts in seeing off local hero Nick Kyrgios by winning three tiebreaks on Rod Laver Arena.
The dashing Bulgarian, who won the ATP Tour Finals in London in November, has won their previous two matches, including in Brisbane a fortnight ago.
“It’s just another match that I need to go through,” Dimitrov said. “I’m just really focused on my side of the court.”
Edmund is the youngest player left in the top half of the draw with world No.1 Rafa Nadal facing Marin Cilic in the other quarter-final.