It won’t get any easier for Andy Murray on his comeback path: In the second round of the ATP World Tour 250 tournament in Eastbourne, compatriot Kyle Edmund is now waiting.
In late 2015, Kyle Edmund was thrown in at the deep end: First appearance in the Davis Cup – and in the final against the Belgians in Ghent. Edmund did well, even won the first two sets against David Goffin – but the show and the main part of the first title for Great Britain after a break of 79 years belonged to Andy Murray. At that time not quite at the height of his creative phase, which Murray was to lead to the top of the world rankings one year later. But, of course, long established as one of the four top players in world tennis.
In those days, however, Murray was also able to enter a tennis court untroubled by major injuries, which was out of the question in the last few months. The Scot has played two matches since his retirement against Sam Querrey in Wimbledon in 2017, both giving cause for hope that Murray is back on his way up.
Nick Kyrgios challenged the double Wimbledon champion in London’s Queen´s Club for three sets, Stan Wawrinka bid Murray a short and painful farewell at the start in Eastbourne. And played a match with Kyle Edmund (not before 5:00 pm, in our live scores).
It will be the third meeting of the two Britons, the two previous ones took place in 2016, Murray won both at Queen´s Club and in Beijing. In Eastbourne, the world number 156, Murray, meets number 18, Edmund. Which doesn’t say anything about the roles in this game. Already in the match against Kyrgios Murray showed his fighting heart and his whole championship on grass: variations with forehand and backhand, sometimes brilliant returns.
Edmund started the year sensationally well with the semi-final entry at the Australian Open, watching Murray from afar. Now attention is once again focused on the double gold medal winner at the Olympic Games. Especially as Murray has left open a definite promise for the Wimbledon tournament starting on Monday. The test against Kyle Edmund is just in time.
Here the single tableau in Eastbourne