Edmund out to big-hitting Aussie Nick

NICK Kyrgios has followed up his win over Andy Murray by knocking Kyle Edmund out of the Fever-Tree Championships.

Kyrgios ruined Murray’s longawaited comeback on Tuesday and then sent the current British number one packing in the second round at Queen’s Club, winning 7-6 (7/3) 6-7 (5/7) 6-3.

It was largely down to a serving masterclass as the Australian sent down 32 aces and faced only one break point as he moved into the quarter-finals.

There was only one break of serve in the entire match, which Kyrgios took early in the third set, though Edmund did have a chance to break with his opponent serving for the win, but could not take it.

It was soon clear that it would be a day for servers to dominate as there were just eight points won by the returner in the opening 12 games.

That meant a tiebreak, where Kyrgios was able to turn the tide and win two points off Edmund’s serve to take the first set 7-6 (7/3).

The second set followed a similar pattern until Kyrgios got into an Edmund service game at 5-5, but the Briton fought back from 15-40 down to hold as another tiebreak ensued.

Edmund got some early momentum and led 4-0 but eventually got the job done 7-5.

The first break of the match finally came at 1-2 in the third set and it was Kyrgios that took it.

Kyrgios barely gave Edmund a look in until he was serving for the match at 5-3 when the Briton forced his only break point. But Edmund could not convert the break point and his tournament was over. ■■DAN Evans will meet his friend Marcus Willis in the second round of Wimbledon pre-qualifying today after both won their respective matches yesterday afternoon.

The world number 340 built on his recent, encouraging form with a convincing 6-2 6-4 victory over Evan Hoyt in which he consistently held his serve at Southlands College near the All England Club. Willis overcame fellow Briton Patrick Foley.

Evans will need to win a further five matches in the coming week if he is to reach Wimbledon and secure the £39,000 prize money awarded to those who play in the first round, but also knows that he will have to do so at one of his friends’ expense.

Few within tennis are closer to the 28-year-old Evans than Willis, aged 27 and the world number 730. Evans was overlooked for a Wimbledon wildcard following his one-year suspension for testing positive for cocaine in April 2017.