Kyle Edmund meets his match
KYLE EDMUND’S hopes of becoming the first male British junior winner of Wimbledon in more than half a century were shattered last night.
South African-born Edmund, 18, went down 6-4, 6-4 to the Italian Gianluigi Quinzi in the semi-finals as his power serving and big hitting finally met its match.
Edmund, now based in Yorkshire, was aiming to become Britain’s first winner of the boys’ title since Stanley Matthews Jr – son of the former footballer – in 1962. Laura Robson won the girls’ event in 2008. But left-hander Quinzi, also 18, refused to be intimidated by Edmund’s power game and returned accurately, his speed around the court confounding the young Brit.
Edmund, who made his breakthrough into senior level at Queen’s and Wimbledon this year, said: “It was disappointing to lose but this past four-week period has been so valuable for me and my career.
“To play on the Tour level with these top guys has been amazing. I’m really pleased with the way it has gone.”
Edmund later reached the semi-finals of the boys’ doubles with Frederico Silva, beating Clement Geens and Noah Rubin 7-6, 6-3 in his bid to add to doubles titles won in 2012 at the US Open and this year at Roland Garros.