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Kyle Edmund in the fourth round of the Australian Open, 2018
Kyle Edmund in the fourth round of the Australian Open, 2018 | (PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images)

ATP Vienna 2018 | Kyle Edmund keeps up unbeaten streak to face Fernando Verdasco in second round

Ros Satar
Tennis

By Ros Satar

  • Kyle Edmund [8] def. Diego Schwartzman 6-3 7-6(3)
  • Faces Fernando Verdasco
VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Kyle Edmund kept his unbeaten streak going with a solid win over Diego Schwartzman as he continues to build pace towards the end of the year.

 

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Kyle Edmund [8] def. Diego Schwartzman 6-3 7-6(3)

Given the emotions surrounding the winning of his first title in Antwerp, British No. 1 Kyle Edmund might have been forgiven if he had slumped out of his opening round against a potentially tricky opponent in Diego Schwartzman in Vienna.

READ MORE | ATP Antwerp 2018 | Kyle Edmund ‘digs deep’ to claim emotional first ATP World Tour Title

ATP Antwerp 2018 | Kyle Edmund ‘digs deep’ to claim emotional first ATP World Tour Title

Instead Edmund merely carried on much as he had finished in Antwerp with a commanding first set against the diminutive Argentine. Things were highly competitive with Schwartzman threatening to break the Brit in the opening game, but Edmund held firm.

Instead it was the newly minted champion who took advantage of a single break point chance against Schwartzman at the end of the set, before serving out for a lead. Despite Edmund’s firepower in comparison to the speedy Argentine, the second set saw not one sniff of a break point until the tie-break.

Edmund struck first, and a second mini-break put him comfortable ahead at 5-1. Schwartzman claimed one back but lost it straight away with Edmund closing out a convincing win.

 

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Edmund v Fernando Verdasco | First meeting

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Next up is the tricky leftie Fernando Verdasco. The Spaniard was too much for a returning Andy Murray this summer at the US Open, and has a big back of tricks to pull from, and this will present a very different challenge to Schwartzman.

Verdasco is very much at home on a hard court with a slicey leftie serve, a very potent forehand and an element of predictable mentality that make him very challenging to play. A lot depends on which Verdasco wants to turn up – he has been known to spectacularly grab defeat from the jaws of victory on many an occasion.

He had a decent run in China as well as Edmund but it seems to have taken him a little time to adjust back in Europe with an early exit in Stockholm and a hard fought battle against qualifier Pierre Hugues Herbert in the opening round.

Edmund’s confidence is high and he might find himself tested a little by Verdasco, who certainly has the experience to make life hard for the Brit, if he cares to.

Prediction: Edmund in straight sets.

 

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