US OPEN KEEP AN EYE ON THIS ONE!
Kyle faces Denis the umpire menace
ONE thing is for sure about Kyle Edmund’s fascinating US Open third round today — it will not end the same way as when he played the same opponent in February.
that was when Canada’s Denis Shapovalov nearly blinded umpire Arnaud Gabas after smashing a ball in anger that, despite not aiming at him, missed the official’s eye socket by millimetres.
they were playing in the deciding rubber of the Davis Cup first round in Ottawa. Edmund was winning comfortably, but it is likely to be far more difficult when Britain’s lone singles survivor at Flushing Meadows meets him today.
Following an impressive 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 win over American Steve Johnson late on Wednesday night, the 22-year- old Yorkshireman reflected on what it did to their public profiles.
‘All of my matches have got something like 5,000 or 10,000 views on Youtube, then you go on that and it’s 200,000 just from that incident,’ he said.
the subsequent furore might have badly stalled the careers of someing teenagers, but Shapovalov has been a model of turning a near-tragedy into something positive. the prompt, unscripted public apology from a 17year- old was impressive, far removed from some mealy mouthed written statement. And since then he has shot up the rankings to 69, powered by a left-handed game combining elegance and power.
It is not hyperbole to state that Shapovalov, now 18, has the potential to become one of the greats of the sport. On Wednesday night he stunned No 8 seed Jo-Wilfried tsonga 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 under lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
A measure of the interest in Shapovalov is that his match against Edmund will also be on the main stadium court, around 6pm UK time.
Edmund’s star is rising more steadily, and in the British men’s game he is certainly the next big thing after Andy Murray, who is back home contemplati g ho how best to proceeded withit his degenerative hip condition. A decision is imminent, but it remains unlikely that he will play until next year.
Edmund was playing in Murray’s absence on that evening in Ottawa, and he and Shapovalov agree the incident turned out to be a positive catalyst.
‘I think it’s helped him mature because since then he’s done well,’ said Edmund. ‘He has really learned from it and realised his behaviour had to be better.
I’ve watched it back. You can see on the video my head was down when he hit it. I thought he hit it against the boards at the side where our team was. I thought the umpire was going, “Oh no, what’s he done? You can’t smack a ball like that so close to people”, and then I realised it actually hit him. It’s quite funny actually, everyone is in shock.’
Shapovalov, whose blond, beach-bum look has also made him something of a teen idol, said: ‘I’ve come a long way from the incident. It’s definitely helped me mature. I’ve apologised constantly before, and I continue to apologise for my actions. It’st’s something I have to live with. But for me it’s in the past and I’m a different person and a different player now. this a completely new match.’
this fortnight is a big opportunity for both players, as they are in the bottom half of the men’s draw that already looked open due to the late withdrawal of Murray. It became even more unpredictable on Wednesday when its highest remaining seed, the much-touted Alex Zverev, was upset by Borna Coric.
Both Edmund and Shapovalov — the latter having come through qualifying — have played a lot of tennis in the past two weeks, so fatigue could be a factor and makes the result hard to call.
Emerging Brit Cameron Norrie lost to 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 and will now return to the Challenger circuit. However, he looks to have every chance of becoming a regular fixture on the main AtP tour soon enough.
Jamie Murray and Brazilian partner Bruno Soares are through to the second round after beating Austrian duo Alexander Peya and Julian Knowle 6-4, 7-6.