• British No 2 eyeing more success after exit in semi-finals • ‘This type of tournament just gives you the bug to want more’

Kyle Edmund flew to Melbourne economy and goes home upgraded in every way. But there will be no extravagant buying sprees for the boy from Beverley (who has earned enough for a second home in the Bahamas) after reaching the first, and surely not last, grand slam semi-final of his career.

Of his A$880,000 (£497,000) prize money, the biggest purse of his career, he said: “It’s not like I’m going to go and spend. You continue doing what you’re doing, like invest in your career and stuff. It’s obviously a nice chunk of money, but there’s nothing I need. I have stuff in place, so I’m very happy with what I have around me.”

Kyle Edmund loses in straight sets to Marin Cilic in Australian Open semis Read more

His coach, Fredrik Rosengren, said he doubted Edmund would be rushing out to buy a Ferrari – to which the player replied, drily: “I have a Jaguar deal, so I can’t …”

As for the Davis Cup tie against Spain in Marbella next weekend, he said: “I’ll do everything I can to play, because I want to play. I want to be there with the team. But there is no point going on court if I’m not ready, because you hinder the team; you basically give up a rubber if you’re not ready. I don’t know percentage-wise what the chances are, but if I’m not ready I’ll ask to give the opportunity to other players that are there to play.”

Play Video 1:07 Kyle Edmund out of Australian Open after defeat to Marin Cilic – video

Looking back on the best fortnight of his career, he said: “I’m very happy with the way I’ve gone about things: played a lot of tough matches, won some tough matches, beat good players. This type of tournament just gives you the bug to want more.”

And despite the obvious discomfort of playing through a groin strain in the latter stages, Edmund remains resolutely up for that aspect of his sport.

“It’s unfortunate. It happens. It’s irrelevant,” he said. “Tennis players are always dealing with stuff. That’s just the nature of the sport, any sport.”

Cilic described it as a match of “slightly different intensity” to his drawn-out win against Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals – “not as many rallies and not as much rhythm”.