Evans cruises past Edmund

DAN EvANS dealt returning Kyle Edmund a painful reminder last night that it is going to be a long road back to the top after his lengthy enforced absence from tennis. The all-GB clash at the Citi Open in Washington DC saw the British No 2 cruise to a 6-1, 6-2 second-round win in only 63 minutes. Flurries of unforced errors and a modest serving percentage sealed Edmund’s fate, although just being back on court this week is a victory in itself after his fitness issues. The 27-year-old last played an event on the main ATP Tour in October 2020 and said he was ‘grateful’ to be competing, having contemplated retiring due to the knee problems that have dogged him since 2019. He is currently ranked 639th — a far cry from the No 14 he reached in 2018 having made the Australian Open last four.