It’s fame, set and cash for last Brit Kyle
HE has spent years living in the shadow of his friend and mentor Sir Andy Murray. But as Kyle Edmund gets ready to fly the flag as the last remaining Briton at Wimbledon today, he is already reaping the rewards of his newfound fame.
The rising star of UK tennis has boosted his already considerable wealth by signing a number of lucrative sponsorship deals, with major brands flocking to him.
The 23-year-old’s most successful run at SW19 has seen him land a lucrative long-term contract with Rolex. It comes along days after the British No 1 penned a similar deal with Evian, adding to his existing tie-ups with Jaguar, British Airways and Nike.
Edmund, ranked 18 in the world after a remarkable year that saw him reach the Australian Open semi-final, has already earned £2.6million in prize money.
His four-year year clothing deal with Nike is understood to be worth in excess of £2million.
More lucrative prizes are expected if Edmund pulls off the daunting task of beating Novak Djokovic on Centre Court in the third round today, described as the ‘match of his life’.
The avid football fan last night said he was hoping to secure a double boost for the country by winning at SW19, while predicting a 3-0 win for England in the World Cup quarter finals against Sweden. He said: ‘I am super pumped for my match tomorrow and also the football. Hopefully it can be a great day for England all round.’ His coaching staff had asked for his game to be scheduled as the first in the day, allowing him to avoid a clash with the England match which kicks off at 3pm.
But SW19 officials yesterday announced that Edmund’s match would be the last scheduled on Centre Court at 4.15pm.
The BBC yesterday refused to comment on whether it had asked for Edmund’s match to be scheduled at a convenient time, which it is allowed to do under Wimbledon rules. It has often been frustrated by World Cup clashes.
Edmund’s agent Lawrence Frankopan last night predicted Edmund was ready to progress further in the tournament, adding: ‘He 100 per cent can win. This will be the first time that the British public really sees who he is.’
Mr Frankopan, credited with masterminding Edmund’s rise, yesterday paid tribute to Murray for ‘paving the way’ for his former training partner’s success.
Teetotal Edmund’s clean-cut image and middle-class upbringing in Yorkshire is seen as a huge selling point. ‘He’s quintessentially British. He’s not going to fall out of a nightclub, he’s a boy next door,’ the agent added.
The singleton, who dated an employee at the Lawn Tennis Association some years ago, previously joked that finding a girlfriend is ‘too much trouble’.
Edmund’s earnings have allowed him to buy a second home in Nassau in the Bahamas, which he utilises as a training base and, controversially, for its low taxes.