KYLE CAN WIN IT
But coach wants Sweden victory
KYLE EDMUND can win Wimbledon, says his Swedish coach Fredrik Rosengren.
But he is backing his country’s football team to dash hopes of a dream double – by beating the Three Lions in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final.
Rosengren and Edmund will put their friendship on hold as Gareth Southgate’s men take on Sweden in Samara.
The 58-year-old has been credited with helping take Edmund’s game to the next level since joining his team last autumn.
And he believes the 23-year-old British No.1, who faces American Bradley Klahn in the second round today, can go all the way at the All England Club.
Rosengren said: “We really think and believe he can beat everybody. There is absolutely no reason to think he can’t.
“He has the strokes, all the tools that it takes to be very, very successful on grass.”
If Edmund beats world No.168 Klahn today,
he could meet triple Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic on Saturday, when Rosengren will be equally desperate to watch Sweden see off the Three Lions in Russia.
The Swede revealed the banter had already started with Liverpool fan Edmund, who has practised in an England shirt at Wimbledon.
He said: “We will be friends for a couple more days and then we see. England have a great team but I believe in Sweden more.
“It’s also good to joke about the match and the soccer – to have things to relax you so you enjoy the ride.
“But we try to do our work first.
“You can’t speak or think tennis 24 hours a
day. Kyle has to be switched on when he is working or we are talking or whatever, but he is a young guy and he deserves to have fun also.
“He is really relaxed. He has made this transition from being ranked 55 or 60 in the world to being top 20 really well.
Rosengren believes Edmund’s straightsets defeat of double Wimbledon champ Andy Murray at Eastbourne gave him a massive boost for the challenge at SW19.
He added: “For him, of course, it was a big match to win – to play his mentor, his idol when he was growing up.
“The way he handled that one was amazing to see. Sometimes we talk about him not being mentally strong or whatever, but sometimes he is unbelievably mentally strong.
“We try to work on that getting better and better.
“The next day is a new match so you have to always look forward, how to handle the next challenge, because it is much more about the mental game.”