Britain’s Kyle Edmund has reached his first career grand slam quarter-final at the 2018 Australian Open. The 23 year-old defeated the Italian veteran Andreas Seppi 6-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 to set up a meeting with either Grigor Dimitrov or Nick Kyrgios.
With a first grand slam quarter-final on the line for both, the reward for success was great. Seppi, the more experienced man, started the match strongly. The 33 year-old had reached this stage before, but had never progressed further. The Italian served brilliantly in the first set, dropping just four points on serve in the first set. Seppi won the resulting tie break.
The veteran appeared to take control with an early break in the second. However, the Italian failed to consolidate the break. Seppi fell down 0-40. Though he got back to deuce, Edmund would not be denied, and levelled the set.
Edmund then made the move in latter stages of the set. With Seppi attempting to hold to once again get to a tie break, Edmund got the returns in and then used his huge forehand to win the break and the set.
The change in the dynamics of the match continued early in the third. Edmund required a little treatment for a slight shoulder injury, but it failed to stem the tide. Edmund broke early in the third, winning five straight games going back to the second set.
Edmund kept his composure to keep ahead. He then sealed another break in the final game, earning the benefit of serving first in the fourth.
Seppi improved a little in the fourth. The Italian displayed some fighting characteristics to save six break points. His resolve was finally broken by some brilliant returning from Edmund, who broke in the eighth game. Edmund sealed the win as Seppi failed to return a serve.
.@Kyle8Edmund leading the :gb: charge!#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/LPGdN07Hw4
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) 21 January 2018
Edmund joins Marin Cilic and Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open quarter-finals. Edmund’s opponent will be either Nick Kyrgios or Grigor Dimitrov, who play in a blockbuster evening session match.
