- Briton reflects on tense quarter-final win over Dimitrov
- Marin Cilic awaits on Thursday after Nadal retires
Kyle Edmund may or may not be the nerveless ingenu he some times appears, immune to outside distractions, whatever the occasion, but he is about to get the chance to prove it.
The occasion here on Thursday night will test his nerves: a debut slam semi-final against world No 6, Marin Cilic, who had to hold focus as Rafael Nadal collapsed in front of him with a hip injury in the fifth set of their quarter-final.
“It’s totally normal to feel nervous, as an emotion, as a human being,” Edmund whispered after getting through his own tense quarter-final against Grigor Dimitrov. “I’m aware of the occasion, but I just tried to focus on my tennis, enjoy it as much as possible.
“It was a great feeling out there. I am loving it right now, the way I’m playing. I’m 23 years old, my first grand slam semi-final, first time I played on one of the biggest courts in the world”
Edmund, and nearly everyone else, expected him to be playing Nadal in the semi-final. The step-down is incremental. This is still a huge ask. Cilic is 29, owns a slam title, the 2014 US Open, and was a semi-finalist here in 2010 – stopped by Andy Murray.
But, whoever is in front of him, Edmund’s heartbeat does not vary much. Still, there was a hint of relief after he’d beaten Dimitrov – who defeated him in Brisbane recently. “I didn’t really think about how good it would feel because then you’re sort of letting your mind wander too far ahead instead of staying in the present. At the end when that ball was out, it was such a good feeling for me, knowing that I’d won the match and was through to my first slam semi.
Quick guide
Kyle Edmund factfile
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Age: 23
Born: Johannesburg, moving to England aged three and raised in Tickton, near Beverley, Yorkshire.
Turned professional: 2011
Best grand slam performances: Australian Open – semi-final 2018; French Open – third round 2017; Wimbledon – second round 2017; US Open – fourth round 2016
Honours: Member of Great Britain’s Davis Cup-winning team, 2015, making his debut in the competition in the final, against David Goffin of Belgium
Career singles titles: 0
Current world ranking: 49
Highest ranking: 40 (2016)
Coach: Fredrik Rosengren
“I’ve gone in there knowing where my game is at, knowing what I want to do on court, not taking anything for granted.”
The enormity of it might yet hit him when he steps on court on Thursday. “You dream of lots of things when you’re young. It’s all a dream. But, until it becomes a reality, then it really hits you. You dream of playing in grand slams, first of all. I’ve done that. You dream of hitting with the top guys. I remember being a practice partner for Andy and Rafa and Roger, to warm then up. Then suddenly you’re playing these guys. At first it’s a bit surreal. Then you take it in your stride. You want to beat them.
“A dream was to play for my country. I’ve done that. But again, of course the big one is to be in a grand slam final. And the dream is to win.”
Edmund will also lead Britain in their difficult Davis Cup tie against Spain in Marbella. Leon Smith, the long-time captain, confirmed the team on Tuesday, with Cameron Norrie, Liam Broady, Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot joining Edmund for the three-day World Group first-round tie, starting on 2 February.
It is clear Edmund is now Smith’s pivotal player, in the absence of Andy Murray. “Whoever goes out to play as a No 2 against what will be a really high-level opponent, it’s about them giving everything they’ve got, learning from it and hopefully leaving a better tennis player,” he said. “I had dinner with Kyle and his team [on Monday night] and so much of the conversation with him was about Davis Cup – even though he was playing in the quarter-finals the next day. He is genuinely excited to be going to Davis Cup.”