US Open 2016: Britain’s Kyle Edmund sets up fourth round clash against world No 1 Novak Djokovic after downing John Isner

KYLE EDMUND slew the giant – next up, the world No 1.

Edmund’s incredible US Open continued with a gutsy, fantastic victory over 6ft 10 in serving machine John Isner.

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And his reward for reaching the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time in his life is a clash with Novak Djokovic.

Edmund had never been past the second round at a Major in his young life but is playing tennis worthy of a last 16 place.

And the 21 year old is showing courage and composure beyond his years, not least in defeating Isner 6-4 3-6 6-2 7-6 in front of a partisan crowd.

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Edmund said: “Playing John, your chances don’t come very often.

“You have to capitalise on them when they do. You see how many aces he hits down.

“When you get a racket on the ball you have to try to get it in the court, make him play, just hustle him really.

“I think I played the big points well, especially in the tiebreak.

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“I knew it was going to come down to one or two points because we weren’t going to break each other’s serve much.”

But Edmund did break the Isner serve in just the fifth game and held on to his advantage.

Isner won the second set courtesy of a single break before a crucial opening to the third.

Edmund held from 0/40 in the opening game and then immediately broke Isner’s serve again.

Another break in the eighth game gave him the set and the advantage of serving first in the next.

Now it was time for Edmund to show his mettle. He saved a break point in the third game and twice held serve from 0/30 down on the way to the tiebreak.

When Isner made a bad challenge and stopped playing, it brought up three match points for Edmund.

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The American saved two on his serve, but Edmund won it with a trademark booming forehand, the kind he had been hitting all week, and deservedly booked the date with Djokovic.

The Brit lost to the Serb in Miami but hopes the experience gained there will stand him in good stead, just as his defeat by Isner at the French Open did.

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Edmund said: “It’s going to be a tough match, playing the world No 1.

“I’ll learn from what happened in Miami. Playing Isner at the French Open helped me tonight.

“Maybe on Sunday it will help me again.”