I’ve hit the peek of my powers
AUSTRALIAN OPEN ED FOR HEIGHTS Kyle gutted his Oz adventure is done .. but certain he’s up where he belongs
HIS glory dream ended in a hiding but Kyle Edmund is convinced he now belongs in the big time.
The 23-year-old Brit’s stunning run at the Australian Open ended with a crushing 6-2 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 loss to sixth seed Marin Cilic in the semis.
However, Edmund will leave Melbourne with nothing but positive memories and encouragement for the months and years ahead after proving he can mix with the elite.
He said: “Obviously I’m disappointed I lost but it’s been a really good couple of weeks for me.
“I got the experience of going deep in a Slam for the first time and all the stuff that comes with it. Playing a couple of matches on Rod Laver.
“I can be very happy with the way I’ve gone about things. I’ve played a lot of tough matches. Won some tough matches. Beaten good players.
“There’s nothing better than winning best-of-five-set matches. Best of five sets should always stay in the men’s game. It’s a true test of quality and grit. It’s a battle.
“This tournament just gives you the bug to want more. Once you get a taste it’s like, ‘Yeah, I want more of this.’ I’ll definitely go away from the whole week feeling positive.”
Edmund’s big weapon, his sledgehammer forehand, was no secret but under new coach Fredrik Rosengren he has improved his serve and added the mental strength to flourish under pressure.
The package has been hugely impressive and, as well as his £500,000 in prize money, he will leave Australia as a top-30 player for the first time and with the belief he can push on towards the top of the game.
He said: “Reaching the fourth round of the US Open a few years ago I beat quality players there, Richard Gasquet and John Isner.
“I know I can beat those guys. It’s just doing it more consistently. The ranking represents how consistent players are. So that’s the goal.”
Cilic, the 2014 US Open champ, was always going to be a tough challenge but Edmund looked spent and was nowhere near his best. His only two break points came in the first game and he took an off-court medical timeout after the opening set with what is believed to be a hip problem.
He added: “It’s unfortunate, it happens. I was below my standard and wish I could have played a lot better.”
Edmund has had a taste of all the Grand Slam hysteria Andy Murray has had to deal with over the years and, while nothing on the court has come as a shock, the level of attention has left him stunned.
He said: “My dad’s got three more jobs than I knew he had and my first love was swimming, which I never knew. I feel people overreact. Like was it King Edmund VI?
“But the attention comes with the territory of doing well. If you embrace it you cope with it better. I don’t get as much now as a lot of other people.
“The top guys like Roger Federer have been doing it their whole life. They crack on and embrace it. It’s good to learn from them.”
Cilic will play Federer or Chung Hyeon in his first Australian Open
Final on Sunday.