Edmund in injury scare as Serena also withdraws

Kyle Edmund suffered an injury scare in a narrow loss to defending champion Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International.

After Andy Murray’s withdrawal from the Australian Open and concern over a hip problem that forced Johanna Konta to retire in Brisbane this week, the last thing British tennis wanted was more injury drama.

Edmund let out a cry of pain and collapsed to the court after catching his right ankle late in the third set but was able to continue with heavy strapping. He did not win another game, though, with Dimitrov battling to a 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4 victory.

Edmund will be keeping his fingers crossed he has not done any serious damage to threaten his participation in the Australian Open, which starts on 15 January.

If Edmund is fully fit, he will fancy his chances of putting in a strong performance in Melbourne having once again shown that he has the game to challenge the very best.

One loose service game cost him the first set after Dimitrov had saved two break points at 3-3 but the British No 2 fought back impressively.

It was Edmund’s turn to save break points at 4-4 in the second set and his huge forehand was at its pulverising best in a superb tiebreak. The third set was nip and tuck until Edmund’s unfortunate injury, which prompted Dimitrov to leap over the net to pick up his stricken opponent.

Meanwhile, Serena Williams has also withdrawn from the Australian Open and will not defend the title she won in 2017.

The 36-year-old was hoping to return to the court after the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia in September. But she said: “I can compete – but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time.”