Andy Murray summed it up with one word. “Wow!” the former world No 1 tweeted within moments of the stunning victory here by Kyle Edmund, his Davis Cup colleague, at the Australian Open.

Playing in his first Grand Slam quarter-final, Edmund beat the world No 3, Grigor Dimitrov, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 with a bold display of controlled big hitting to create an upset to match Novak Djokovic’s defeat 24 hours earlier by Hyeon Chung.

Edmund, who in Thursday’s semi-finals will face Marin Cilic after Rafael Nada retired with a hip injury early in the fifth set of their quarter-final, joins an elite group of British men who have progressed this far in Grand Slam events.

Australian Open - in pictures Show all 64 1 /64 Australian Open - in pictures Australian Open - in pictures Day 1 A general view as Roger Federer plays in his first round match against Aljaz Bedene Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 1 Kyle Edmund celebrates his first round victory over Kevin Anderson at the Australian Open Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 1 Venus Williams suffered a surprise defeat against Berlina Bencic. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 1 Rafa Nadal cruised into the second round with a straight sets victory over Victor Estrella Burgos. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 1 Heather Watson crashed out of the Australian Open after defeat by Yulia Putintseva. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 2 Johanna Konta beat Madison Brengle in the first round. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 2 Juan Martin del Potro reacts after beating Frances Tiafoe Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 2 Roger Federer waves to the crowd as he walks onto Rod Laver Arena Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 2 Will Federer watches on during the second day Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 2 Petra Kvitova reacts after losing a point against Germany's Andrea Petkovic Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 2 Garbine Muguruza celebrates after victory against Jessika Ponchet Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 2 Dominic Thiem beat Argentina's Guido Pella to progress to the second round Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 2 Maria Sharapova in action against Tatjana Maria Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 2 Ashleigh Barty celebrates winning her first round match against Aryna Sabalenka Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 3 Robson plans on spending most of the European winter in Australia Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 3 Kyle Edmund defeated Denis Istomin in straight sets to reach the Australian Open third round Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 4 Johanna Konta crashed out in the second round AFP/Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 4 Konta blamed match fitness for the loss Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 4 It completes a hat-trick of surprise defeats for world no 10 Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 4 Bernarda Pera will progress to the third round AFP/Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 4 Djokovic called the conditions 'brutal' AFP/Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 4 Monfils said he was struggling to breathe AFP/Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 4 Federer is one of the favourites for the tournament AFP/Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 5 Kyle Edmund celebrates his third round victory over Nikoloz Basilashvili Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 6 Second seed Caroline Wozniacki beat Magdalena Rybarikova in straight sets Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 6 Novak Djokovic is through to the next round despite an injury scare Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 7 Kyle Edmund is through to the Australian Open quarter-finals after beating Andreas Seppi Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 7 Andreas Seppi has no answer for Edmund's dominant serves and forehands Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 7 Nadal beat Schwartzman 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 7 Nadal faces Cilic in the last eight AFP/Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 7 Grigor Dimitrov beat Nick Kyrgios to set up a quarter-final against Edmund Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 7 Caroline Wozniacki celebrates her victory over Magdalena Rybarikova to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 7 Wozniacki pulled off a 'tweener' during the match Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 8 Angelique Kerber beat Su-Wei Hsieh to reach the last eight of the Australian Open Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 8 Hyeon Chung celebrates his shock victory over Novak Djokovic Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 8 Novak Djokovic's struggles with his long-standing elbow hindered his performance in Monday's defeat Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 8 Simona Halep, the world No 1, had too much experience for 20-year-old Naomi Osaka Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 8 Madison Keys prepares for a Caroline Garcia serve Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 8 The world No 1 signs autographs for fans after reaching the quarter-finals Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 8 Karolina Pliskova beat her fellow Czech Barbora Strycova 6-7 (7-5), 6-3, 6-2 Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 9 Kyle Edmund was in quarter-final action against Grigor Dimitrov... Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 9 ... and dispatched him in four sets Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 9 Edmund won 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 9 Edmund will be British No 1 if he wins in the semi-finals Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 9 Marin Cilic beat Rafa Nadal to take the other semi-final place against Edmund Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 9 Nadal was treated on court for a hip or thigh injury Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 9 Nadal cut a frustrated figure Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 9 The No 1 seed was favourite to win in Melbourne Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 10 Roger Federer eased past Thomas Berdych to reach the semi-finals. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 10 Tennys Sandgren was knocked out of the men's singles by Hyeon Chung. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 10 Angelique Kerber reached the last four with a victory over Madison Keys. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 10 Kerber set up a clash with Simona Halep after the Romanian beat Karolina Pliskova. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 11 Kyle Edmund was knocked out of the Australian Open by Marin Cilic in the semi-finals. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 11 Edmund congratulates Cilic after their semi-final clash. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 11 Edmund leaves the arena after his semi-final defeat. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 13 Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep pose ahead of the women's final. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 13 Halep was looking to win her first Grand Slam title. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 13 Caroline Wozniacki celebrates winning the women's final. REUTERS Australian Open - in pictures Day 13 Wozniacki parades the Australian Open trophy after her victory. Getty Images Australian Open - in pictures Day 13 Wozniacki parades the Australian Open trophy after her victory. AFP Australian Open - in pictures Day 13 Wozniacki poses with the Australian Open trophy after her victory. Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 14 Roger Federer celebrates winning his 20th Grand Slam with victory in the Australian Open final Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 14 A fan celebrates Roger Federer's 20th Grand Slam success Getty Australian Open - in pictures Day 14 Roger Federer has become the first man to win 20 Grand Slam titles Getty

He will be only the sixth British man in the open era – after Roger Taylor, John Lloyd, Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman and Murray – to play in a Grand Slam singles semi-final. The last Briton other than Murray to reach the last four here was Lloyd, who did so in 1977. Murray, Lloyd and Taylor are the only other Britons in the open era who have reached the last four here.

Henman was in the crowd here to watch Edmund win the biggest match of his life in emphatic fashion. Dimitrov, who claimed the biggest prize of his career when he won the ATP Finals in London in November, enjoyed a wonderful year in 2017 and was being tipped by many as a possible winner of one of this year’s Grand Slam titles.

Edmund, however, looked confident from the start, underlining how well he has done to put behind him the memory of several close matches last year which had escaped from his grasp. He has won two five-set contests here and repeatedly shown the mental strength to recover from setbacks.

The world No 49, who has one of the biggest forehands in the game, hit 46 winners to Dimitrov’s 32, yet it was on serve that he had an even bigger advantage.

Edmund will face Nadal or Cilic (Getty Images)

The Briton hit 13 aces to Dimitrov’s seven, but it was the 26-year-old Bulgarian’s seven double faults that seemed to undermine his confidence. In truth the world No 3 has been in patchy form for most of this year, though his victory over Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round on Sunday evening had suggested that he had turned the corner. He had also won both his previous meetings with Edmund, most recently in Brisbane a fortnight ago.

By making his debut in Rod Laver Arena, Edmund moved three-quarters of the way towards a career Grand Slam of appearances in the sport’s four major stadiums. The Briton was beaten by Djokovic in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open in 2016 and by Gael Monfils on Centre Court at Wimbledon last year. Now he has just Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros to complete his collection.

With the sun shining brightly and the temperature a pleasant 22C, the conditions when they walked on court just after 2.30pm were almost perfect. Edmund had made slow starts in three of his first four matches here, but this time he got off to a flier, breaking serve in an opening game in which he hit some big forehands, a fine backhand winner down the line and a textbook winning volley. The start spoke volumes for his confidence.

Edmund won 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 (Getty Images)

Dimitrov, however, broke back in the sixth game. From 40-30 up Edmund hit a double fault and then made two successive forehand errors.

At 4-4, nevertheless, Edmund broke again. Dimitrov double-faulted to go 15-30 down and then missed a forehand under attack from Edmund’s big hitting. The Bulgarian saved the first break point but on the second Edmund ran round his backhand to hit a monstrous forehand return winner. He converted his second set point in the following game with a service winner.

However, Dimitrov came out fighting at the start of the second set. After taking a 2-0 lead the world No 3 held serve from 0-40 down and served out for the set with something to spare.

Edmund will be British No 1 if he wins in the semi-finals (Getty Images)

Dimitrov retrieved an early break in the third set, but in the eighth game his seventh double fault cost him his serve once again. When Edmund served for the set at 5-3 he went 15-30 down before taking matters into his own hand. A sledgehammer forehand down the line took him to 30-30, another forehand winner took him to set point and a service winner did the rest.

Excitement mounted as Edmund made the first break of the fourth set in the fifth game courtesy of two successive forehand errors, though Dimitrov broke back immediately.

At 3-3 Dimitrov saved a break point when Edmund netted a forehand, but the Briton was not to be denied. With Dimitrov serving at 4-4 the Bulgarian went 15-40 down as Edmund successfully challenged an “in” call on a backhand down the line, Hawk-Eye’s cameras proving that the ball had missed by the tiniest of margins. Two points later Dimitrov’s netted backhand gave the Briton the chance to serve for the match.

It was the first time Edmund has won five games in a row (Getty)

At 15-15 in the final game Edmund double-faulted, but he held firm despite the enormous pressure. Instead it was Dimitrov who continued to make the mistakes, the last of them on Edmund’s first match point as a backhand sailed beyond the baseline.

In next Monday’s world rankings list Edmund is expected to climb 23 places to a career-high position of No 26. Should he reach the final, he will even replace Murray as the British No 1.

However, there will be no chance for the 23-year-old to rest on his laurels. In Murray’s absence Edmund will be the key figure in Britain’s Davis Cup team when they face Spain in the World Group first round in Marbella at the end of next week.

Britain’s second singles player for the tie will be either Cameron Norrie or Liam Broady, who will both be in the party. Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot will play doubles.