By Ros Satar, in Cincinnati
- Kyle Edmund [14] v Mackenzie McDonald [WC]
- First meeting
CINCINNATI, USA – It will be Kyle Edmund’s turn to face the seemingly fearless Mackenzie McDonald in his Cincinnati opener.
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Kyle Edmund [14] v Mackenzie McDonald [WC] | First meeting
After a bout of tonsillitis laid him low straight after Wimbledon, British No. 1 Kyle Edmund is still searching for a first win over the pond having bounced out in his openers in Washington and Toronto.
It is not an easy start for the Brit, facing Mackenzie McDonald, who gave Andy Murray some pause for thought on his return to the hard courts after a tentative return early in the grass court season. McDonald took the first set off Murray before the Brit’s competitive edge kicked in, and he outlasted the American in the sticky humid conditions in Washington.
Edmund had to withdraw from Umag straight after Wimbledon, but in his initial foray (against Murray in Washington) he hung with Murray over three sets including a competitive first set tie-break, but maybe that took a lot out of him as he lost in the opener in Toronto to Diego Schwartzman in a very bad day at the office.
READ MORE | Kyle Edmund loses in Toronto first round in one-sided defeat
Kyle Edmund loses in Toronto first round in one-sided defeat
The serve/forehand combination that Edmund has built his game around will most likely be absorbed by McDonald who likes to hot a flatter, deeper ball but he has a little bite to his forehand and a surprisingly big serve for someone that is not challenging some of the taller players on the tour.
His compact ground game will have to focus instead on accuracy and placement, as Edmund will look for ways to dominate the points.
McDonald will play free and as with his match against Murray, he could have the element of surprise in this first meeting, and with Edmund still finding his way into the hard court swing, it would not be a surprise if McDonald stole a set off the Brit. Experience, though, and power ought to swing it in the end for Edmund.
Prediction: Edmund in three sets.
Edmund and Mcdonald are scheduled on Centre Court, not before 7pm (Midnight Monday BST).
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