British invasion at the US Open Kyle cause Djok waves
TENNIS EDMUND UP FOR CRACK AT WORLD No.1 JO’S FOE WAS STOVA AND OUT
KYLE EDMUND insists he will go in with all guns blazing against Novak Djokovic today as he tries to extend the run of his life at the US Open.
The British No. 4 earned a crack at the World No.1 after knocking out big hitting 20th seed John Isner on Friday and is adamant he is feeling no pressure after reaching the last 16 in a Grand Slam for the first time.
Edmund’s performance capped a superb first week for British tennis at Flushing Meadows, with Andy Murray and Dan Evans enjoying success in the men’s singles while Jo Konta keeps the flag flying in the JO KONTA’S path to the quarter-finals of the US Open is being blocked by a player who quit tennis three years ago.
Konta (right) takes on Latvia’s Anastasija women’s draw with a last-16 clash against Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova today.
Edmund said: “We are all doing really well and we are going up and up. Obviously Andy isn’t going up – he’s been there for ages!
“Me and Dan are going up now, which is great. Jo is doing well consistently now. Her ranking reflects it. I think it’s a real positive.
“It does rub off on each other.
“It has that positive vibe. We all watch each other wanting them to win and do well.”
Edmund reckons his success against Isner was down to lessons learned in a defeat at the hands Sevastova, who turned her back on the game after a string of injuries.
The 26-year-old was enticed back and beat No.3 seed Garbine Muguruza in the second of the American in the French Open. And he’s hoping the same will apply to a narrow 6-3 6-3 loss he suffered to Djokovic in Miami back in March. The 21-year-old’s exploits so far in New York have raised his ranking to World No.62. He added: “I feel I had s ome good success in that match. “In the middle of the match I started taking it to him a bit more. “That’s my game. That’s what I’ve been doing this tournament and I need to continue to do that.” Edmund believes he has a chance, although he isn’t reading too much into the fact that Djokovic has had little game- round. Sevastova said: “I was injured and decided to retire. I studied, played with kids, gave some lessons. Then I started to enjoy playing more and decided to come back.” time, with his second- round opponent Jiri Vesely withdrawing and Mikhail Youzhny retiring injured after only six games in the third round.
The Yorkshireman said: “I approached the Isner match like I had nothing to lose and I definitely don’t have anything to lose against Djokovic.
“I obviously believe in myself that I can win, yeah. Any match I believe I can win. That’s the mentality you’ve got to have.”
Mentality
Djokovic (left) insists he has no worries about his lack of time on court and believes it has helped the injury to his right elbow recover.
The Serb said: “Considering the stage of the season, the amount of matches I’ve played, what I’ve been through with my body, I think it’s actually good to have some days off and then shorter matches from one side.
“I am not too concerned about my game itself.
“I have worked hard and I feel much better than at the beginning of the tournament. I’m confident everything is going in the right direction.”