Brit tennis star Kyle Edmund backs himself to perform in future Grand Slams after losing to Marin Cilic in Australian Open semi-final
The 23-year-old crashed out in straight sets against the Croatian, and is now hoping to be fit to face Spain in the Davis Cup next week
KYLE EDMUND shook off the anti-climax of defeat and declared: I’ve got a taste for this and I want more.
Whether Edmund can shake off the hip problem which hampered him in his first Grand Slam semi-final in time for next week’s Davis Cup tie in Spain is another matter.
But it is clear the British No 2 will not waste time and energy mourning his injury-hit 6-2 7-6 6-2 Australian Open loss to Croatian No 6 seed Marin Cilic.
Edmund said: “I’m just disappointed I lost but it has been a really good couple of weeks for me.
“I won some tough matches, beat good players. I have not been surprised at the way I played because I always believed in the way I played.
“But it’s just really pleasing that I have been able to produce at a big tournament. This type of tournament just gives you the bug to want more.”
That will be music to the ears of Edmund’s head coach Fredrik Rosengren. The Swede said: “I am so proud of him. He had his days not only on court, but also off court.
“How he grew as a person, how he learnt to enjoy this extra pressure, this extra media, all this stuff, more people watching him practise, more people wanting his autograph.
“I thought he handled it unbelievably well. I hope he wants more. I’m sure he will.”
What Edmund wants next is to lead the British team, in the absence of fellow hip victim Andy Murray, in the incredibly tough first-round Davis Cup clash in Marbella, which begins next Friday.
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The 23-year-old went off court for treatment after the first set in Melbourne and was unwilling to dwell on the issue.
And Cilic served so well and played so solidly that he would have been hard to beat even if Edmund had been at full fitness.
Edmund said: “It’s unfortunate. It happens. I’m definitely disappointed about it, but I have to look at the whole week.
“I was below my standard today and wish I could have played a lot better. I’ll do everything I can to play in the Davis Cup.
“But there is no point going on court if I’m not ready, because you hinder the team.”
Given that the other singles players named in the GB side, Cameron Norrie and Liam Broady, have next to no experience of playing big matches on clay, even a half-fit Edmund might do a better job.
But he would be foolish to risk the opportunity to build on this brilliant breakthrough in order to play in such a tough Davis Cup match. And Edmund is no fool.
So is Rosengren right that he is not the sort of person to spend a wedge of his £500,000 prize money on a Ferrari? Edmund smiled: “Yeah, because I have a Jaguar deal, so I can’t. It’s obviously a nice chunk of money but there’s nothing I need.”
More opportunities beckon — on and off the court.
A new world ranking on Monday of No 25 or No 26 will mean being seeded at future Grand Slams, if Edmund can maintain or improve it.
Rosengren said: “I just hope this is a teaser — that he wants to have these days again.
“I’m pretty sure he will work so he can be in this position again.”
Great Britain captain Leon Smith was at Melbourne Park for all of Edmund’s Aussie Open matches.
Smith said: “He’s got such a big game, he’s 23, he’s getting better.
“His best tennis is still to come. Everything’s really worked for him this week. He’ll keep improving now. I think the biggest thing is his mindset shift, he’ll really think he has got a shot of beating the top guys now.
“But the most important thing is not to think too far ahead of where he might finish the year.
“It’s not about that right now, it’s understanding that what you’re doing is working, so push harder again.