KYLE LIVES DREAM AS FIFTH BRIT THROUGH

Katie Boulter felt ‘devastated’ but, for Kyle edmund, winning a match at Wimbledon was the fulfilment of a dream. So, just another day in the Championships when the home players had their hopes piled high on what most try, but fail, to approach as just another tournament.

in the end, there were four British losses and one home win — edmund finally opening his account at SW19 by beating compatriot alex Ward, the lowliest qualifier in the draw.

it means that, by the second round, there are five GB players left, which is par for the course. it is the same number who have made it for the last three years.

While there will be groans about the failure of British wildcards, it is the same most years in that the results largely follow the rankings. Four GB winners (andy Murray, Jo Konta, edmund and Heather Watson) beat players ranked below them, while others lost to those ranked higher.

the exception was aljaz Bedene, who knocked out 21st seed ivo Karlovic on Monday and can progress further today against Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur.

edmund has always grasped what is required and tomorrow the 22-year-old from Yorkshire will face 15th seed Gael Monfils after seeing off Ward 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.

‘it’s the one tournament you want to do well in more than any other,’ said edmund. ‘to say that i’ve won a match now is nice. But it’s important not to get too high.’

Boulter, 20, pushed world No 60 Christina McHale close, but lost 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 despite an early break in the deciding set.

‘i’m totally devastated,’ she said. ‘it is my Wimbledon debut, it is something that i have dreamed of since i was a little girl.’

Fellow wildcards Brydan Klein and James Ward lost in straight sets. Ward was not embarrassed in losing 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to ex-top tenner Marcos Baghdatis, and Klein fell away 7-6, 6-3, 6-0 to Japan’s Yuichi Sugita.