In-form Edmund scorches past Istomin

Kyle Edmund backed up his big upset of Kevin Anderson by routing Denis Istomin to reach the third round of the Australian Open for the first time.

The British No 2, pictured, oozed confidence in baking conditions at Melbourne Park, not facing a single break point in a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory to set up a clash with Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili.

Edmund’s section of the draw was blown wide open on day one by defeats for seeds Anderson, Jack Sock, Lucas Pouille and Philipp Kohlschreiber, and it is a golden opportunity for one of the players remaining to reach a grand slam quarter-final.

On this form, there is absolutely no reason why that cannot be Edmund, who is the second highest ranked player in the section behind Yuichi Sugita of Japan. Grigor Dimitrov survived an almighty scare against American qualifier Mackenzie Mcdonald to reach the third round, eventually sealing a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 0-6, 8-6 victory. World No 1 Rafael Nadal was tested by Leonardo Mayer but quelled the threat of the Argentine to win 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).

In the men’s doubles, Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares survived a tricky firstround encounter.

The fifth seeds and 2016 champions found themselves a set down against Americans Frances Tiafoe and Donald Young. But they fought back well and Murray eventually served out a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory.