Petrolhead Kyle Edmund can now afford a Ferrari – but coach Fredrik Rosengren says Britain’s new tennis superstar will never drive anything so flash
Brit No 2 takes on Marin Cilic in the Australian Open semi-finals knowing he can buy anything he wants - but his Swedish mentor says money and success won't change Edmund
PETROLHEAD Kyle Edmund will be able to afford a Ferrari, win or lose today,
But his Swedish coach Fredrik Rosengren is confident the unassuming young Brit will not be affected by his new-found fame and the celebrity trappings that go with it.
When he first broke on to the circuit, Andy Murray treated himself to a red Ferrari aged 22 in 2009.
Yet he sold it within months, admitting later: “When I got out of it, I felt like an idiot.”
British No 2 Edmund, 23, could bank £1million if he beats Marin Cilic in the Australian Open semi- finals this morning to reach his first Grand Slam final.
And Edmund, who is guaranteed at least £468,000, makes no secret of his love of fast cars and motorbikes.
But Rosengren sees him more as a Volkswagen Polo kind of guy.
His Swedish coach, 57, said: “He realised more and more his life changed. I hope he enjoys it a lot. This comes with the success.
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“It will help him a lot with his self-esteem to improve as a person, to handle all these things.
“He’s a very down-to-earth, polite guy so I’m not expecting him running tomorrow and buying a Ferrari.
“He’s not that kind of guy. He’s very humble. But it’s very good for his personality to have this feeling that he’s so good in something.
“I’ve worked with players who would definitely buy a Ferrari and a player who shared a Volkswagen Polo with his mother.
“So I’ve been through all this stuff. The only thing I can do is give Kyle my years of experience.
“And the most important thing is that he shows me that he listens.”
Edmund is aiming to become only the third British man since World War II to reach a Grand Slam singles final.
He has received lots of messages of support from family and friends around the world, including Murray, whom he will replace as British No 1 if he beats Cilic.
But Edmund is trying to shut out all the buzz and focus on extending his amazing run in Melbourne.
He said: “Andy texted me after the match saying well done.
“The reaction has been amazing. But it’s one of those thing where I’ve done well but I’m really just trying to block that out because I’m still playing in the tournament.
“I have a really good chance, I’m playing well and it’s going to be a great experience.”
Anything seems possible this fortnight for Edmund, — who dreamed of days like this after leaving home as a teenager to live and train at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.
He said: “You think about that sometimes, of how far you’ve come, but you just sort of get on with it.”
Edmund has been the hottest property in Melbourne this week — with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay even wanting a moment of his time.
Ramsay is in Australia filming at the moment.
And if revenge is a dish best served cold, then today is the perfect time for the young Brit to make up for losing to big Croat Cilic last October in Shanghai, in their only previous meeting.
Edmund said: “I’ve watched loads of Gordon’s shows, he is really funny on TV. I’m not a massive cook myself but I always watch it.
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“Whenever he is on those talk shows and makes a scrambled egg, I try to do it at home.
“Unfortunately he used so much butter, which tastes really good but it’s not great for a tennis player.”
Ramsay said: “Fingers crossed for Kyle. He’s like a butcher’s dog, lean and packed with muscles.
“If he wins, he is allowed to have butter and cream!”