The official line from Andy Murray’s camp remains that he will come back at Rosmalen in Holland in two weeks’ time, but only if he is properly fit.
Given his vanishing act of the last eight weeks this seems highly unlikely, thus increasing the spotlight on the slightly reluctant figure of Kyle Edmund.
The 23 year-old Yorkshireman begins a big seven weeks from the heights of being world number seventeen at the French Open, the first time a British man has been seeded at a Grand Slam not called Murray since the days of Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski.
Andy Murray could return at Rosmalen in two weeks’ time but only if he is fully fit
It is four months since he made the semi-finals of the Australian Open, and having fallen ill after that the wins are starting to rack up again.
Edmund has taken no chances with his preparation, having arrived in Paris last Sunday ahead of his opener against highly-rated young Australian Alex de Minaur.
The 19 year-old, who grew up partly in Spain playing on the clay, should not be underestimated but, as Edmund points out, he has faced tougher opposition in recent weeks.
He had a set point against world number three Alex Zverev at the Italian Open, providing a good gauge of his progress.
Kyle Edmund begins his French Open campaign against Australian Alex de Minaur
‘Alex is probably playing the best tennis of his life, I learned a lot from that. It’s not the only match but it’s definitely one where you can look and see where you are at. Other matches as well, (David) Goffin no.10 in the world and I was playing well against him, or Djokovic.’
Edmund beat the latter pair, so his chances of making the second week again are real. In Murray’s absence he and Cam Norrie are the two British males in the singles draw (along with Jo Konta and Heather Watson in the women’s).
The two Brits won the doubles title together at Estoril earlier this month, and both have pushed on since, with Norrie making the last four of this week’s ATP event in Lyon.
The two are contemporaries, but with Norrie growing up largely in New Zealand they have only recently struck up a friendship.
With Murray still out, the spotlight is increasing on the slightly reluctant figure of Edmund
‘We practice a lot together, I find it makes it a lot easier because you are more relaxed, when you get on with the other person, you can talk about things, not worry about that first communication like you do with a new partner,’ said Edmund. ‘ I found that really helpful, we just kept it relaxed and struck up a good balance that week.’
Norrie, moving up to around 85 in the rankings this week, reached the semis in Lyon having lost his grandmother recently. He plays Germany’s world number 49 Peter Gojowczyk, a fellow debutant at Roland Garros.
While Edmund would be arguably among the top ten contenders for the men’s title, he is still a rank outsider to make the final, especially as he could theoretically meet Rafael Nadal in the semis.
Most interesting will be to see who makes it through to the final on the other side. Zverev – who has, curiously, never passed the last sixteen in a Slam – is in there, as are two others most likely, Dominic Thiem and the improving Djokovic.