The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

Danish second seed Caroline Wozniacki was buzzed by flying ants as she was knocked out of Wimbledon in the second round yesterday, losing to unseeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova.

After tough few years American is back at SW19

- ELEANOR CROOKS

Bradley Klahn is not surprised to see Kyle Edmund flying the British flag but fairly stunned to be the man providing his opposition in the second round at Wimbledon.

Edmund posted his eighth grand slam match victory of the season against Alex Bolt in round one. Klahn’s success against Yuichi Sugita was the first he has managed in the main draw of any slam since the US Open in 2013.

“It’s pretty surreal,” the California­n said, ahead of today’s tussle with Edmund. “The last Wimbledon main draw I played was 2014 and a lot’s happened since then so just to qualify, earn my way back onto the grounds, was special and to play really good tennis, it feels really good.”

Klahn, a Stanford graduate, reached his career-high ranking of 63 in 2014 before his body, in his own words, fell apart. Back surgery the following season put him out for the best part of two years and it has been a slow journey back.

He arrived at Roehampton for Wimbledon qualifying on a four-match losing streak and without a tour-level win all season, so it is no surprise this achievemen­t feels especially sweet.

He said: “I went through a lot of questionin­g whether I should come back and play tennis. There were a lot of times when I was pretty upset, pretty depressed.

“I started looking at other opportunit­ies but I knew I wasn’t ready to give up tennis, I knew maybe I had a few more moments like this in me. There’s no looking for other opportunit­ies right now.

“I feel like I’m playing better tennis each week, I’m making improvemen­ts. Last year I was really just finding my feet, almost relearning the ropes. You never know when your week’s going to happen. I’m excited. These are the moments I’ve always envisioned.”

Klahn and Edmund have played twice previously, both times in 2014, when the British number one was still a teenager. At that stage Edmund was ranked outside the top 200 but Klahn saw enough to spot a star in the making.

“Kyle’s a phenomenal player, he’s made a big leap this year making his first (grand slam) semi-final. It’s in his home country, so he’s certainly going to have plenty of support,” said the 27-year-old.

“I’ve been able to watch a little bit of him and he’s obviously made improvemen­ts. It’s been so long since I played him so there’s not a whole lot I can take from that but I know what I’m in for. Obviously big serve, big forehand, so he’s going to look to control a lot of the points with that.

“It’s my job to try to neutralise that and get him out of his comfort zone.”

Edmund is looking to reach the third round for the first time at the All England Club, which could result in a clash against 12-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic.

Meanwhile Gael Monfils has revealed he has finally learned how to love grass after reaching Wimbledon’s third round for the second year running.

Frenchman Monfils edged past Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3) yesterday to book a clash with 11th seed Sam Querrey.

“After years and years of improving slowly, finally I can say that I like the grass,” said Monfils.

“I’m trying to like the grass as much now as I like playing tennis.

“I’ve had to have the mindset that it’s just another surface.”

Canada’s 13th seed Milos Raonic swept past Australian John Millman in straight sets, but in predictabl­y attritiona­l fashion, requiring three tiebreaks for victory.

Raonic drove home 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4), to book a third-round clash with Dennis Novak, who toppled 17th seed Lucas Pouille in a fine five-set victory.

Big-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic served 61 aces but still slipped to a galling five-set defeat, to Germany’s Jan Lennard Struff.

Struff prevailed 6-7 (5-7) 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) 13-11 in a clash lasting almost four hours, and he will face Roger Federer next.

Third seed Marin Cilic was heading for a straight-sets victory over Argentina’s Guido Pella, when rain interrupte­d proceeding­s.

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