#NextGen Edmund Steadily Improves Against Game's Best

It was a match a less poised young player might have lost.

On Monday at the Winston-Salem Open, 21 year old Kyle Edmund faced ATP World Tour veteran Rajeev Ram for a spot in the second round. The 32 year old’s serve-and-volley tactics and flat, penetrating groundstrokes thrive in quick environments like Winston-Salem.

In similar conditions last month at the Rogers Cup, the American’s unique style helped him beat rising Frenchman Lucas Pouille and reach the third round.

But in North Carolina, Edmund was able to break Ram three times. After losing two match points, the young Brit advanced 7-5, 7-6(5).

“I just knew I had to keep going because I was playing well to get match points,” Edmund told ATPWorldTour.com. “There’s no point in moping around because if you mope around you get a slow start in the tie-break and that will cost you and then you’re in the third set anyway.”

The win was the #NextGen star’s first at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament and the latest sign of his continued development. Since the start of 2015, the 6’2” right-hander has hiked 106 spots in the Emirates ATP Rankings to No. 85.

He’s spent the season checking off career milestones. He reached his first ATP World Tour quarter-final in Doha (l. to Berdych). At The Queen’s Club in London, he made his second ATP World Tour quarter-final (l. to Murray) and gained his first Top 20 win, beating then-World No. 18 Gilles Simon 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

Twelve months ago this week, Edmund had finished playing an ATP Challenger event and was playing qualifying at the US Open.

“If I look at this stage last year and I say am I a better player? I say definitely,” Edmund said. “I’ve played more matches on the bigger stages at the tour level… So you’re building that experience in the bank, which is good for me and that’s exactly what I want.”

Edmund has made a conscious effort this year to play more ATP World Tour tournaments and fewer Challenger events. The choice has helped him gain experience against the best in the world.

In March at the Miami Open presented by Itau, the Beverley resident faced World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the second round but fell 6-3, 6-3. In the quarter-finals of the Aegon Championships in June, the Brit showed his improved game by taking a set off World No. 2 Andy Murray before losing to his countryman 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

“I was pleased with what I put on court [against Murray],” Edmund said. “What you take away from that is, what we’re doing is good, but let’s do it more consistently. Step it up a level.”

Murray, who’d go on to win a record fifth Aegon Championships title, noted Edmund’s evolving game after the match.

“When he’s landing first serves and then getting the first shot of the rally on his forehand, he can dictate a lot of the points,” Murray said. “He doesn’t have a real weakness from the back. His backhand is solid… There are obviously things he’s going to continue to improve as well… I think his game is getting better all the time, and that’s very positive.”

At Winston-Salem, which is held at Wake Forest University, Edmund is looking to keep improving and enjoy another college campus in the U.S. While he was in the Dallas area for the Irving Challenger in February, he trained with the Texas Christian University men’s tennis team in Fort Worth.

“It’s always individual stuff here. To go there and work with the team is slightly different but it’s a nice difference so it’s good,” Edmund said.

He especially had fun during their off-court activity of paintballing. Edmund had never been before and learned how intense the game can get.

“We played teams, you win some you lose some. But everyone comes away with bruises, don’t they?” he said. “I put on the mask but I remember I got one right in the mouth vent. I just remembered this massive noise, and I didn’t know what happened. I knew I got hit. I went back and all my teeth were pink from the ball.”

Maybe in Winston-Salem he’ll stick to tennis.