Former world no. 14 and a Major semi-finalist, Kyle Edmund, is enjoying his best week since February 2020. The Briton qualified for the main draw of the Columbus Challenger and scored two victories for a place in the quarter-final.
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The Johannesburg native competed in the last eight at the ATP 500 event in Acapulco following wins over Feliciano Lopez and Felix Auger-Aliassime. It was his last tournament before summer, experiencing injuries and missing an entire 2021 season.
Kyle is yet to find his old form, suffering seven losses from as many ATP matches in 2023 and returning to Futures at the beginning of the current season. Ranked 417th, Edmund is seeking much-needed triumphs at Challengers, and things are looking good for him in Columbus.
The Briton lost the opening set in the first qualifying round against Adam Neff before prevailing 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. He ousted Tyler Zink in the second round, delivering a bagel in the second set and moving into the main draw.
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Kyle Edmund defeated Dominic Stricker in the Columbus Challenger second round.
Kyle faced the 4th seed J.J. Wolf in the first round and scored a 6-1, 7-6 victory, setting the clash against the Swiss Dominic Stricker. Edmund notched a 6-3, 6-3 win in 71 minutes for his best result in four and a half years.
The Briton dominated with his first serve on an indoor court, taking 30 of 34 points. He struggled behind the second serve but denied three of four break points, mounting the pressure on the other side. The Swiss could not follow that pace, dropping 47% of the points in his games and losing serve four times, ending his campaign in the second round.
Kyle closed the opening game of the match with a service winner, and Dominic responded with a hold at 15 in the next one. Former world no. 14 landed an ace in the third game and made a push on the return. A left-hander sprayed a forehand error, facing two break points and losing serve after another loose groundstroke.
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Edmund squandered game points in the fifth game and sprayed a massive forehand mistake to give his opponent a break chance.
The Briton denied it with a forehand winner and painted another for a hold, moving 4-1 in front.
A qualifier held at love in the seventh game with a forehand winner and served for the opener at 5-3. He drew Stricker's mistake for a set point and seized it with an ace for 6-3 after 35 minutes. The Swiss sent a forehand long in the third game of the second set, suffering a break and falling further behind.
Kyle cemented the advantage with a hold at love in the next one, marching toward the finish line. Edmund held after a deuce in the sixth game and grabbed a break at love a few minutes later with a crafty backhand down the line winner.
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He served for the win at 5-2 and wasted a match point after netting a backhand. Dominic pulled one break back, reducing the deficit to 5-3 and serving to prolong the battle. However, a left-hander played another poor service game, hitting a double fault and sending his rival over the top.
