Edmund sees off spirited Pouille challenge to set up last-16 clash

KYLE Edmund maintained his fine clay court season form with a 6-2 7-6 (7/3) second-round victory over Frenchman Lucas Pouille at the Italian Open in Rome yesterday.

The Briton (right) defeated Novak Djokovic and David Goffin on his way to the quarter-finals in Madrid last week and that form moved the 23-year-old into the top 20 of the ATP rankings on Monday.

The World No.19 needed three sets to see off qualifier Malek Jaziri in the first round, but a dominant serving performance, where he offered just one break point, ensured a smoother path into the last 16 where he will face second seed Alexander Zverev.

Johanna Konta demonstrated her improving form in a convincing win over Hsieh Su-wei in the second round.

The British No.1 looked confident and assertive in a 6-0 6-4 victory over the unconventional Taiwanese player Hsieh, who had shocked Konta in the first round of the French Open last summer.

Top seed Rafael Nadal made an impressive start to the final pre-French Open event with a 6-1 6-0 win over Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur.