Kyle Edmund makes progress at Brisbane International
Tuesday 2 January 2018 19:28, UK
Kyle Edmund was taken the distance before he outlasted talented Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov in the opening round of the Brisbane International on Tuesday.
Edmund, who prevailed 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4, struggled with his serve right from the start of the match but managed to save five out of six break points to overcome his opponent in two hours and 30 minutes.
"Everyone wants to start well but the year is so long that if there's positivity you feel good but even if you don't start well it doesn't mean the year is going to be a bad one," the Briton said.
"It's always good to come to Brisbane, I made the quarters last year, got a good win this year so it's definitely helped my game going into the year."
Edmund next plays Chung Hyeon after the South Korean world number 58 withstood a barrage of booming serves from fifth seed Gilles Muller before winning 6-3 7-6 (7-1).
At the Qatar Open in Doha second and third seeds - Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta and Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic - crashed out of the tournament in the first round on Tuesday on a night of shocks in Doha.
Carreno Busta was beaten by Croatia's Borna Coric, 7-5 2-6 6-7 (8-10) in an enthralling match lasting two hours and 41 minutes.
And Berdych, returning to the tour from a back injury, went down 4-6 6-1 6-7 (7-4) in the match on centre court which followed against his fellow 6ft 5ins opponent, Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.
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