Kyle Edmund’s rapid rise to the Australian Open semi-final

When hawk-eye finally confirmed Kyle Edmund’s match-point against Grigor Dmitrov following a tense delay, Andy Murray summed up perfectly how the tennis world felt.

The British No 1 tweeted simply: ‘Wow’ after watching Edmund stun the world No 3 and seal his spot in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

Murray’s shock is indicative of Edmund’s remarkable rise to prominence in Melbourne this tournament as he qualified for his first-ever Grand Slam semi-final with victory against a man 43 places higher than him in the ATP rankings.

Kyle Edmund celebrates his shock win over Grigor Dmitrov in the Australian Open quarter-final

Edmund regularly trains with British No 1 Andy Murray - who tweeted his surprise at the win

Edmund regularly trains with British No 1 Andy Murray – who tweeted his surprise at the win

It’s been a remarkable rise to prominence from the 23-year-old from Yorkshire, who has earned £500,000 in Australian Open prize money by beating Dmitrov. 

Edmund’s displays this tournament have made British fans forget all about the absence of Murray – who was ruled out with a hip injury,

Despite hailing from east Yorkshire, Edmund has looked comfortable playing in the 40-degree Melbourne heat and brilliantly outlasted Dmitrov in their gruelling four-set quarter-final match.

Edmund was born in Johannesburg to a South African mother and a Welsh father but moved to England at the age of three, with the family settling down near in a village near Beverley.

Edmund won the junior Davis Cup with Great Britain in 2011 helping them beat Italy in the final

Edmund won the junior Davis Cup with Great Britain in 2011 helping them beat Italy in the final

His Grand Slam debut came at Wimbledon in 2013 when he was beaten in the first round

His Grand Slam debut came at Wimbledon in 2013 when he was beaten in the first round

Keen for her children to be active, Denise ferried them to and from David Lloyd Racquet and Fitness Club in Hull every Saturday morning but Kyle preferred cricket and swimming. 

He took up the sport very late by professional standards, at the age of 10, but quickly established himself as one of Britain’s most promising junior players. 

In 2011 he helped Britain win the junior Davis Cup and followed up that success by clinching his first junior Grand Slam title – at the 2012 US Open.

Edmund, who is a big Liverpool supporter and regularly posts Instagram messages in support of the Reds, only made his senior Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon 2013 where he lost in the first round.

The Edmund family moved to Beverley in Yorkshire from South Africa when Kyle was just three

The Edmund family moved to Beverley in Yorkshire from South Africa when Kyle was just three

Edmund is providing cause for optimism among fans of British men's tennis with his displays

Edmund is providing cause for optimism among fans of British men’s tennis with his displays

Despite Murray’s reaction to the win over Dmitrov, the British No 1 has been supportive of Edmund throughout his fledgling career with the pair regularly training together. 

Now Edmund has become the first British man since Tim Henman in 2004 not named Murray to make a Grand Slam semi-final.

Less than two years ago Edmund was ranked outside the top 100 but his rankings are set to shoot up following his breakthrough displays in Melbourne this year.

Next up for Edmund is a semi-final meeting with Marin Cilic, a Wimbledon finalist last year and a former Grand-Slam winner at the 2014 US Open.   

Edmund is a big Liverpool fan and made an appearance on the club's in-house TV show in 2017

Edmund is a big Liverpool fan and made an appearance on the club’s in-house TV show in 2017

Edmund said he believes he's going to win the match 'every time he steps on the court'

Edmund said he believes he’s going to win the match ‘every time he steps on the court’

When asked whether he thought he could win the Australian Open after his victory over Andres Seppi in the quarter-finals, Edmund replied. ‘You have to believe it.

‘That’s why I’m in the quarter-finals. Because every time I step on the court, I believe I’m going to win.”

Should he defeat the Croat at the Rod Laver Arena on Thursday, Edmund will be one step closer. The future of British men’s tennis looks bright after all.



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