Kyle Edmund’s season turned out to be his break out year. He started his 2018 ranked number 50 in the world but would cut that ranking in half after a solid start by running through to the SF of the first Grand Slam of the year at the Australian Open. His clay court season was also surprising consistent, making it to a couple of QF, a win over Djokovic and reaching a career high 17 in the world by the time Wimbledon came around in July…..

…..His form between Wimbledon and the US Open would fall as he seemed to struggle with his top 20 ranking. But after the US Open, Edmund regained his confidence and went on to win the first ATP World Tour title of his career in Belgium at the European Open. His push for the ATP Finals in London was cut short as he had to end his season early due to a knee injury.

Let’s break down his year, tournament by tournament to get a better understanding of how he played throughout the 2018 ATP tennis season.

1. BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL

World Ranking #50

QF def. by Dimitrov (3-6, 7-6, 4-6)



(Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/)

Edmund started 2018 off at the Brisbane International at number 50 in the world. His run to the QF stage of the event was impressive by overcoming fellow rising stars, Denis Shapovalov and Hyeon Chung to set up a meeting with Grigor Dimitrov. Unfortunately, Dimitrov would prevail in three tight sets 3-6, 7-6, 4-6.

2. AUSTRALIAN OPEN

World Ranking #49

SF def. by Cilic (2-6, 6-7, 2-6)



(Source: https://www.reuters.com/)

After a solid start to the season, Edmund headed to the first Grand Slam of the year looking to make a good run. He would upset Kevin Anderson in the first round on his way to a fairytale run to the SF. After beating Dimitrov in the QF, Edmund would eventually fall to Marin Cilic in straight sets 2-6, 6-7, 2-6.

3. BNP PARIBAS OPEN

World Ranking #24

R2 def. by Sela (4-6, 4-6)



(Source: https://www.eurosport.com/)

Breaking into the top 25 in the world thanks to a SF at the year’s first Grand Slam, Edmund arrived at the Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells looking to continue his early form. After a first round bye, Edmund would find it tough in the second round losing to Dudi Sela in straight sets 4-6, 4-6.

4. MIAMI OPEN

World Ranking #26

R2 def. by Tiafoe (6-7, 6-4, 6-7)



(Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/)

With a humbling loss at the first Masters 1000 event of the year, Edmund headed to the Masters 1000 event in Miami looking to regain his early season form. After another first round bye thanks to his top 30 ranking, Edmund would fall against Frances Tiafoe in three tight sets 6-7, 6-4, 6-7.

5. GRAND PRIX HASSAN II

World Ranking #26

F def. by Andujar (2-6, 2-6)



(Source: https://www.marca.com/)

Coming off some tough early losses at the first Masters 1000 events, Edmund started his clay court season at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Morocco looking to start his Roland Garros preparations off on the right foot. He would make it to the final without losing a set before falling to Pablo Andujar in straight sets, 2-6, 2-6.

6. ROLEX MONTE CARLO MASTERS

World Ranking #23

R1 def. by Seppi (3-6, 7-5, 2-6)



(Source: http://znewsfirst.com/)

After reaching an ATP World Tour final, Edmund was looking to continue his recent clay court form at the Masters 1000 event in Monte Carlo. Unfortunately, Edmund would go down in the first round to veteran Andreas Seppi, 3-6, 7-5, 2-6.

7. MILLENNIUM ESTORIL OPEN

World Ranking #23

QF def. by Sousa (3-6, 6-1, 0-6)



(Source: https://www.enca.com/)

Heading into the Estoril Open with some mixed results in his recent clay court events, Edmund would make it through to another QF stage, playing some solid tennis along the way. His run would stop however, as he would fall to Portuguese clay court specialist Joao Sousa 3-6, 6-1, 0-6.

8. MUTUA MADRID OPEN

World Ranking #22

QF def. by Shapovalov (5-7, 7-6, 4-6)



(Source: https://readtennis.co/)

Having made another QF to go with his solid start to the 2018 season, Edmund arrived at the Masters 1000 event in Madrid looking to lift a trophy for the first time in his ATP World Tour career. He would make a solid run to the QF stage of the event, beating Novak Djokovic along the way, before falling to fellow rising star Denis Shapovalov, in an epic three set match 5-7, 7-6, 4-6.

9. INTERNAZIONALI BNL DÍTALIA

World Ranking #19

R3 def. by Zverev (5-7, 6-7)



(Source: http://znewsfirst.com/)

Having broken into the worlds top 20 for the first time in his young career, Edmund finish his Roland Garros preparations at the Masters 1000 event in Rome. His good form continued as he made it to a third round clash with Alexander Zverev. Unfortunately, Edmund would go down in a tight straight set match, 5-7, 6-7.

10. ROLAND GARROS

World Ranking #17

R3 def. by Fognini (3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6)



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/)

Entering his first Grand Slam as a seeded player, Edmund was looking to show the tennis world that his SF in Australia was not a one time event. He started Roland Garros with a few solid wins making it to the third round by only dropping a set. However, his tournament would end in a five set epic against Fabio Fognini, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6.

11. FEVER-TREE CHAMPIONSHIPS

World Ranking #17

R2 def. by Kyrgios (6-7, 7-6, 3-6)



(Source: https://www.eurosport.co.uk/)

After a solid clay court season and a career high ranking of 17 in the world, Edmund headed home to compete on the grass courts at the Queen’s Club. He would face Nick Kyrgios in the second round and after winning the second set tie break, Edmund would eventually fall 6-7, 7-6, 3-6.

12. NATURAL VALLEY INTERNATIONAL

World Ranking #18

QF def. by Kukushkin (7-5, 3-6, 1-6)



(Source: https://www.si.com/)

Looking for some grass court form before the third Grand Slam of the year, Edmund headed to Eastbourne with hopes of lifting his first ATP on home soil. He would beat compatriot Andy Murray on his way to the QF of yet another event in 2018. Unfotunately, he would be defeated by Mikhail Kukushkin 7-5, 3-6, 1-6.

13. WIMBLEDON

World Ranking #17

R3 def. by Djokovic (6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 4-6)



(Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/)

Entering Wimbledon as the British number one, expectations were high on Edmund as he started the event seeded at 21. He would make it through to a third round clash against Novak Djokovic without dropping a set. However, the support from the home crowd could not lift him past the former world number one, going down 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 4-6.

14. CITI OPEN

World Ranking #18

R2 def. by Murray (6-7, 6-1, 4-6)



(Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/)

Still inside the top 20 in the world and still looking for his first ATP World Tour title, Edmund turned his focus to the hard courts of North America starting with the Citi Open in Washington DC. With a first round bye awarded to him, Edmund would have to face Andy Murray in the second round. Unfortunately he would not beat his compatriot as Edmund fell 6-7, 6-1, 4-6.

15. ROGERS CUP

World Ranking #16

R1 def. by Schwartzman (1-6, 2-6)



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/)

After an early loss to start his US Open preparations, Edmund arrived at the Masters 1000 event in Toronto looking to regain the form that got him to the SF of the Australian Open earlier in the year. He would have to face Diego Schwartzman in the first round and would go down easily, in straight sets 1-6, 2-6.

16. WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

World Ranking #16

R2 def. by Shapovalov (4-6, 5-7)



(Source: https://tennisthreads.net/)

Reaching a career high number 16 in the world and looking for some match wins before the final Grand Slam of the year, Edmund headed to the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati as the number 14 seed. He would make it to the second round with ease but would eventually fall to fellow rising star Denis Shapovalov, 4-6, 5-7.

17. WINSTON-SALEM OPEN

World Ranking #16

QF def. by Johnson (1-6, 2-6)



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/)

With his last chance of gaining some match win confidence ahead of the US Open, Edmund arrived at the Winston-Salem Open looking to make a solid run to eliminate the early losses he had suffered so far on the North American hard courts. He would make the QF of this event with solid wins but would fall to local hope Steve Johnson 1-6, 2-6.

18. US OPEN

World Ranking #16

R1 def. by Lorenzi (6-4, 4-6, 5-7, 1-6)



(Source: http://www.zimbio.com/)

Searching for the form that had pushed him into the top 20 at the start of 2018, Edmund headed to the US Open with mixed results in his preparations for the final Grand Slam of the year. He would have to play tricky Italian Paolo Lorenzi in the first round and could not prevail, going down in four tough sets 6-4, 4-6, 5-7, 1-6.

19. CHINA OPEN

World Ranking #16

SF def. by Basilashvili (6-7, 4-6)



(Source: http://www.cityam.com/)

With a disappointing US Open behind him, Edmund’s focus was now on qualifying for the ATP Finals in London. He started his campaign for qualification by competing at the China Open and would have a solid run making it to the SF of the event. Edmund would fall to eventual champion Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7, 4-6.

20. ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

World Ranking #14

QF def. by Zverev (4-6, 4-6)



(Source: https://news.sky.com/)

Breaking into the top 15 in the world for the first time in his career and with ATP Finals qualification in his sights, Edmund headed to the Masters 1000 event in Shanghai looking to continue his recent form. He would have a solid run to the QF stage before falling to Alexander Zverev in straight sets 4-6, 4-6.

21. EUROPEAN OPEN

World Ranking #15

W def. Monfils (3-6, 7-6, 7-6)



(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

After solid back to back runs at his last two events, Edmund was still looking for another shot at his first ATP World Tour title and he would get his chance as he ran through the European Open in Belgium without dropping a set. He would have to fight hard in the final against Gael Monfils, but would finally lift his first trophy winning 3-6, 7-6, 7-6.

22. ERSTE BANK OPEN 500

World Ranking #14

R2 def. by Verdasco (4-6, 6-3, 3-6)



(Source: https://www.skysports.com/)

Coming off his maiden ATP World Tour title victory and with a career high ranking of number 14 in the world, Edmund was looking to finish the year strong and possibly qualify for the ATP Finals in London. He would win his first match at the Erste Open 500 in Vienna, but could not continue his run, as Edmund finished his 2018 season with a loss to Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 6-3, 3-6.

CONCLUSION

Kyle Edmund’s 2018 season has been a break through year for the British number one. He started the year with a SF at the Australian Open and after he some what plateaued in the middle of the year, Edmund finished the year with a title and some solid results in Asia before a knee injury would force him to finish the year earlier than he would have liked.

As for 2019, I think Edmund will have a tough time trying to replicate his early 2018 form. If he were to lose early at the Australian Open then his ranking will drop outside the top 30 and he would need to have a good solid clay court season to get back into the top tier. Fortunately for Edmund, his Wimbledon to US Open run gives him a golden opportunity to climb back up the rankings with little to no points to defend during this time. I wouldn’t be shocked if Edmund was to finish outside the top 20 at the end of 2019.

✅ Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube Channel! 👇👇

===> https://www.youtube.com/c/CamWilliams