Former Australian Open semi-finalist returns to Futures
Former world no. 14 and the Australian Open semi-finalist Kyle Edmund is playing Futures event for the second time since 2014! World no. 508 tried with a couple of ATP tournaments in the opening three months, failing to make an impression and returning to the lowest level of professional tennis to seek form and matches.
Edmund entered the M25 Santa Margherita di Pula event and faced the Argentine Alejo Lorenzo Lingua Lavallen in the first round. Kyle scored a 7-6, 6-1 victory in two hours and 11 minutes for a place in the last 16 and his first victory of the season.
Edmund served at 53% and played against 14 break points, which is not a good sign! However, he defended ten and delivered six breaks from 13 opportunities to emerge at the top. The Britone prevailed in the opener and forged a 5-0 lead in set number two before sealing the deal.
Kyle Edmund is playing Futures again after a slow start to the season.
The rivals traded six consecutive breaks in the opener to remain neck and neck. Kyle broke again in game 11 and squandered set points on his serve in the next one before getting broken and allowing the opponent to force a tie break.
The Briton clinched it 7-5 to wrap up the opener after over 80 minutes! Edmund took charge and claimed the opening five games of the second set, including breaks in games two and four. Kyle served for the victory at 5-1 and produced a fine hold to move into the second round.
Edmund underwent a minor procedure on his left knee two years ago, dealing with an injury since the closing stages of 2018. Kyle wrapped up the 2020 season with five straight losses and skipped 2021 due to health issues. The Briton dropped out from the top-500 by the last summer, returning to action and playing a couple of tournaments before embracing another break after the US Open.
Kyle is 0-4 on the ATP Tour in 2023, losing to Jannik Sinner, Miomir Kecmanovic and Yibing Wu and deciding to skip Challengers and start all over at Futures. Edmund's last good results came in 2020, winning his second ATP title in New York and pushing Novak Djokovic to the limits at the US Open before experiencing more setbacks with injuries.
The Briton is still eager to extend his career, hoping to gain a boost at the lower-tier events and challenge the top-100 rivals in the rest of the season.
