Edmund caps off a perfect start to his Roland Garros campaign by storming to emphatic win to set up meeting with Marton Fucsovics of Hungary in second round
Wednesday 30 May 2018 06:05, UK
British No 1 Kyle Edmund raced through his opening-round clash against Australian teenager Alex de Minaur at the French Open on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old overpowered his 19-year-old opponent, De Minaur, to win 6-2 6-4 6-3 in under two hours to advance to the second round at Roland Garros.
Edmund, seeded for the first time at a Grand Slam at 16th, beat De Minaur on the clay of Estoril, and he made it a double inside of a month with a comfortable win on Court Three.
The Yorkshireman made a breakthrough in the first game and it was not long before another break followed as Edmund wrapped up the set in 31 minutes.
Edmund secured another break in the fifth game of the second set after De Minaur pushed a forehand wide.
The teenager then smashed a ball out of the court in frustration. Yet the Australian, a highly rated player and deceptively powerful despite his small frame, broke back for 4-4.
However, Edmund hit back immediately and held serve to love to move a set away from a place in the second round.
Edmund, still maintaining the momentum from his thrilling run to the semi-finals of the Australian Open earlier this year, showed all the elements of his improved game by securing a break at the start of the third to take complete control before taking his first match point to wrap up a fine win.
He will now face world No 45 Marton Fucsovics after the Hungarian beat Canada's Vasek Pospisil 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-5).
Edmund won their only previous meeting at the Winston-Salem Open last year for the loss of just three games.
