Kyle Edmund, Brisbane International 2018
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mike Frey/BPI/REX/Shutterstock (9304984j) Kyle Edmund of Great Britain in action at the Brisbane International Brisbane International, Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Brisbane International tennis tournament, Australia - 02 Jan 2018

Kyle Edmund beaten in Estoril Open quarter final

By Jake Davies

  • Joao Sousa defeats Kyle Edmund [3] 6-3 1-6 6-0
  • Kyle Edmund still to feature in a doubles semi-final in Estoril
ESTORIL, PORTUGAL – Kyle Edmund loses in the quarter-final of the Estoril Open after succumbing to Portugal’s Joao Sousa in three sets.

 

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Joao Sousa defeats Kyle Edmund [3] 6-3 1-6 6-0

The stage was set for one of the biggest matches of the entire event as British No.1 Kyle Edmund clashed with Portuguese No.1 Joao Sousa. The match definitely had more meaning to the local, but Edmund was striving to find some form going into the two Masters events on the clay in Madrid and Rome, but just fell short of the level required in a very topsy-turvy match.

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Sousa was the first player to make the breakthrough as he secured the break in the eighth game of the first set before serving it out on his third set point and you then wondered whether the match was going to be a straightforward one for the Portuguese. Edmund soon struck back and started finding a bit of form on his forehand side, while Sousa’s concentration took a dangerous turn, which allowed the Brit to comfortably take the second set with a loss of just one game.

Edmund’s level subsided however, from the very first point of the final set as he started the set very edgy and almost like he had totally forgotten the good work he had put in in the previous set, which enabled Sousa to grow in confidence and take advantage of an opportunity to win his biggest match of the week at a tournament he has had limited success at in recent years.

It was a total collapse from Edmund in the third set as he went out with a whimper by losing a bagel set. A lot of the talk before the match was about who could take control of their forehand and make the first meaningful strike in the rally, but the real key in this match was the beginning of the third set where Sousa gained in self belief when really the match looked out of his control.

Despite Edmund’s singles loss, he has a doubles semi-final to look forward to as he partners Cameron Norrie and will actually meet Sousa once again but on a doubles court.

Main Image: Photo by Mike Frey/BPI/REX/Shutterstock

 

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