KYLE’S TEARS AT FIRST TITLE
Emotional Edmund claims his first title
THIS is the moment British No 1 Kyle Edmund showed what it means to win his first ATP Tour title. The 23-year-old beat France’s Gael Monfils 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 in the final of the European Open in Antwerp. The normally stoic Yorkshireman broke down in tears after the match and said: ‘A lot of work goes into this, so it’s just emotional. You are always going to remember this one.’
Kyle edmund normally maintains a yorkshire kind of stiff upper lip, but he was overwhelmed by emotion after winning his first ATP Tour title.
The 23-year-old from the east Riding broke down as he embraced Swedish coach Freddie Rosengren after edging victory in the final of the indoor european Open in Antwerp, Belgium.
Faced with flamboyant Frenchman Gael monfils, edmund twice came close to defeat before pulling through 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 in two hours and 27 minutes.
It all came down to a final-set tiebreak in which the British no 1’s nerve held up the stronger as he clinched it 7-4.
‘I’m obviously very happy. A lot of work goes into this so it’s just emotional,’ he said. ‘ you are always going to remember this one so I was just very happy.
‘I’ve not been able to string together my matches to win tournaments. There has always been something to let me down.
‘It has been one of my goals to be more consistent. Today I had to really dig deep and it’s great that I’ve been able to have this experience and come through.
‘It gives you so much belief and confidence for the next time it happens.’ edmund was top seed for this tournament at the 250 level of the main tour and will bank a cheque for £98,000.
He becomes the first British man not named Andy murray to win an ATP Tour singles title since Greg Rusedski at newport in Rhode Island 13 years ago.
It is a watershed for the unassuming edmund. His ferocious forehand has become a trademark while his backhand has been one of the tour’s more improved shots this year.
When today’s new rankings come out he will be at a career high of 14, having passed a major milestone in his career.
This has been a breakthrough season for edmund, beginning with his surprise progress to the Australian Open semi-final back in January. He reached the third round at Wimbledon for the first time, losing in four sets to eventual champion novak djokovic.
He has contended with a recurring virus that left him below par at the uS Open but he is finishing the year strongly.
There is still an outside chance he could qualify for the ATP Tour Finals at the O2 Arena next month, contested by the eight best players of the season.
A more realistic aspiration would be to make it as an on-site reserve in london, ready to step in, in case of injuries.
He has two more tournaments this season: this week’s Vienna Open and then the final masters event of the year, the more prestigious Paris Indoors which carries a heavy points haul.
edmund tends to do things in measured steps rather than surges, melbourne being an exception.
It took him five attempts to win an ATP semi-final before reaching the final of the Grand Prix Hassan in marrakech in April. He looked unnerved by the situation and lost heavily to Spain’s Pablo Andujar but, judging by yesterday, he has learned from the experience in his usual fashion. He has operated under two coaches this year, Rosengren and mark Hilton, and looks increasingly well-placed to make a bid for the top 10 next season.
World no 38 monfils dominated on serve in the 31-minute first set but edmund broke to go 3-1 up in the second. The athletic Frenchman broke back for 4-4 but was to lose the tiebreak 7-2. Both players saved two break points in the decider to take it into a second tiebreak.
The key point was at 5-4 when edmund made backhand pass to bring up two match points.
He served out and sank to his knees in an uncharacteristic show of emotion. He becomes the 13th first-time winner on the ATP Tour this year — and he is the highest ranked of all of them.
edmund has now amassed a 36-20 match record in 2018 and made over £1.5million in official prize money. He will finish as one of two British players in the top 100 along with Cameron norrie. With Andy murray due back in January and dan evans and James Ward making progress — not to mention the precocious 16-year-old Jack draper — there will be hopes of a wider revival of British fortunes next year.