KYLE, LAST BRIT STANDING
Cheered on by his delighted mum!
THE nation’s hopes were left weighing heavily on Kyle Edmund’s shoulders last night as he became the last Briton standing at Wimbledon.
The 23-year-old UK No 1 was the only home player to make it into the third round after Johanna Konta and Katie Boulter were sent crashing out yesterday.
And as if taking on Novak Djokovic next isn’t enough, Edmund also faces a different type of clash – the game is likely to coincide with England’s World Cup quarter-final with Sweden on Saturday. To add extra spice, Edmund’s coach Fidde Rosengren is Swedish.
Coming off Centre Court last night, Edmund said: ‘It will be interesting with the football. I’m very much looking forward to it.’ The passionate England supporter said he had not spoken to Wimbledon bosses about the scheduling of his match to avoid clashing with the game. ‘I don’t know who does it but I’m sure they will factor it in,’ he said. Asked if he wanted to play before or after the game, he said: ‘I don’t mind either way. I’m a tennis player so obviously I’m here to do my job first. Hopefully it will be a success for both of us.’
Yesterday Edmund, seeded 21, beat Bradley Klahn in straight sets.
His victory came after a disappointing day for British women as Miss Konta and rising star Miss Boulter were knocked out.
Miss Konta reached the semi-finals last year but was beaten 6-3 6-4 by Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia.
The 27-year-old British No 1 said: ‘I did the best that I could. I lost to a very good player.’
She said that the expectations of the nation did not affect her play, adding: ‘I’m here to satisfy my own expectations. I love playing here. That is regardless of what external factors are because that is very much out of my control.’
Miss Cibulkova would have been seeded, and thus avoided playing Miss Konta so early, but for the decision to give Serena Williams a seeding even though her world ranking had dropped following her maternity leave.
Miss Boulter, 21, lost in straight sets to 18th seed Naomi Osaka of Japan. It means that, following Andy Murray’s withdrawal, Edmund has been left flying the flag for Britain and our only hope of having any players in the second week of the singles.
He faces the daunting task of beating three-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic but the Yorkshireman said he was able to cope with the pressure, adding: ‘I just do the best I can, I’ve always approached it that way. The excitement from people and anticipation is all part of it. That’s normal...that’s the way it’s going to go.
‘Novak is one of the best players in the world and of all time... he is very dangerous. For me it’s a great experience to play against him’ Djokovic, 31, acknowledged the weight on his opponent. The Serb said: ‘He’s a hometown favourite now that Murray is not here. ‘There’s a lot of expectations and pressure on his back. But he’s handling it pretty well so far.’ However, fans should not be too pessimistic about Edmund’s chances against the former world No 1. The Briton managed to beat Djokovic, who has returned from an elbow injury he suffered at Wimbledon last year, in their last contest at the Madrid Open in May.