Britain’s Kyle Edmund came back down to earth with a bang in Indian Wells. Edmund had reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open, but was beaten in his opening match in the second round in Indian Wells by Dudi Sela, 6-4, 6-4.
Edmund had not played since losing to Marin Cilic at the end of that excellent run in Melbourne, pulling out of events in Sao Paulo and Rio as he nursed a hip injury and illness.
His return to action seemed like a kind one, as Sela filled the place in the draw vacated by the injured Denis Istomin. Sela had been beaten in qualifying by the United States’ Evan King.
Edmund had chances to win, as he broke early in the first before being pegged back. He had chances again at 4-4, at 0-30 but it was Sela who would hold and then break a game later to seal the opening set.
Edmund responded well, breaking immediately to start the second, but could not hold the lead. Poor serving saw Sela claw his way back to contention. Two breaks of serve saw the Israreli again recover to win the set.
Philipp Kohlschreiber came close to joining the 21st seeded Edmund in losing his first match. The German veteran dropped the first set to the United States’ Tim Smyczek, and was down a break in the decider before recovering to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. Kohlschreiber will face either Marin Cilic or Marton Fucsovics in the third round.
Big-serving Frenchman Pierrer-Hugues Herbert is perhaps better known as one half of the doubles duo with Nicolas Mahut that has been so successful over the years. The Frenchman scored a good win over 24th seed Gilles Muller in the second round, 6-3, 7-5.
