Reality check for Andy Murray as he loses in straight sets to Kyle Edmund in Eastbourne

Declan Warrington 00:07 28/06/2018
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  • Andy Murray suffered a straight-sets defeat to Kyle Edmund at Eastbourne on Wednesday as the two-time Wimbledon champion continued to build his fitness after 11 months out.

    Edmund has succeeded Murray as British number one during the Scot’s lengthy injury-enforced absence, and the 23-year-old’s growing authority was clear throughout a 6-4, 6-4 victory in the second round of the Nature Valley International.

    The 31-year-old last week began his comeback when he lost to world number 19 Nick Kyrgios at Queen’s Club. He followed that by overcoming Stan Wawrinka on Monday in straight sets, but, if that suggested he had cause for optimism, his performance against Edmund offered a reality check.

    Murray then refused to commit to competing at the All England Club from Monday, and against Edmund he showed little that would equip him for up to five sets against some of the world’s best.

    He will move up from 156 to 147 in the world rankings, but will be more concerned with the inconsistency of his serve. A double fault at the very start contributed to an early break for Edmund, and the Johannesburg-born player then rescued three break points to establish a 2-0 lead.

    Murray temporarily showed signs of improvement through several aces, but, after Edmund earned two set-points with a fine backhand winner and then converted the first, the three-time grand slam winner’s struggles increased.

    In the second set he dropped his serve again to go 3-2 down, after a double fault and on Edmund’s fourth break point.

    After being broken again to go 5-2 down, Murray impressively responded to claw it back to 5-4, but a further winner from the powerful Edmund secured two match-points and he duly secured victory with a passing shot.

    Heading into this match, Murray had won each of his two previous matches against Edmund – and had not lost to a compatriot since a 2006 defeat to Tim Henman.

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