Even Kyle Edmund, for whom self-effacement has become an adornment, had to admit that his three-set wipeout of the once-formidable Richard Gasquet on the first day of the US Open was the best win of his career.
In the context of opponent, circumstance and the manner of execution his 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 victory against the 13th seed in just an hour and 41 minutes in killing midday heat here on Monday, was even better than his two outstanding singles wins for Great Britain in the Davis Cup quarter‑final against Serbia in Belgrade earlier in the summer.
On the tight but exposed Court Five in front of a small but vocal gathering of supporters, the player considered most likely to succeed Andy Murray as British No1 demolished an opponent once considered by his admirers to be the Scot’s equal.
Edmund later analysed his performance with professional detachment, neither over-excited nor complacent. Nor was he about to dismiss his next opponent, the toweringly obscure Ernesto “Neto” Escobedo, ranked 201 in the world.
“On ranking I think it’s my best win,” the world No84 said of his victory against a distinguished opponent nine years older and 70 places ahead of him in the rankings. “And the way I went about it, the way I played, a lot of things went well. Days like this feel really good. There are definitely days where they are not like that; that’s when you put the work in.”
Edmund was quicker in thought and deed than one of the smartest players on Tour, out-hitting him off the ground and bossing him behind a big serve. The last of his 10 aces sealed the win, leaving the Frenchman drained and resigned. Even Gasquet’s dangerous and elegant single-handed backhand, one of the sport’s treasured sights, let him down: 10 of his 22 unforced errors came there, with Edmund inducing a further nine on the backhand. That is intelligent tennis: spotting an unexpected weakness and cashing in.
The overall points differential of 82-52 singularly described the gap between them in such a short match.
“I definitely played better than I expected to be playing,” Edmund admitted. “The last few days actually have been a lot better than the start of the trip. So there were good signs. It just really clicked today. I’m very grateful for that.”
Gasquet was breathing hard from the middle stages of the match but he said there was no residual pain from the back injury that cut him down at Wimbledon. The Frenchman said of his opponent: “I’ve seen him many times play so I knew how good he is. He deserved it. He played well, will be very good in the future. So I’m not surprised at all.”
Gasquet’s good days, which are still a delight, are spread more thinly now. He said later: “I need time.” While Edmund, at 21, has plenty of it, Gasquet does not.
The Briton, who broke six times but did not panic when his opponent struck back early in the third, hit 40 clean winners, 30 of them through his rippling forehand, but he showed plenty of match savvy as well, cutting down the space at the net as he invited Gasquet to try passing through the reduced spaces on either flank. On the day, that landscape shrivelled in the heat.
“When I did go a break down, I thought I didn’t do too much wrong,” Edmund said. “I didn’t make enough first serves; maybe he was trying to get something going so he was playing a little bit more freely, but, the way I had been playing, very consistently, I wasn’t playing out of myself. I was very confident with what I was doing, I knew it wasn’t going to take much to get that back. I just remained calm.”
In the second round on Wednesday, Edmund plays someone about whom even some seasoned tennis writers knew little. The American wildcard Escobedo was in control at 6-4, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 when Lukas Lacko pulled out injured. Escobedo, born in Los Angeles, is the son of a Mexican truck driver who was not that keen on his son playing tennis until he saw how good he might become. Edmund will show Señor Escobedo if his ultimate faith in 20-year-old Neto is in any way justified at the highest level. Before reaching the second round here, his best result was the semi-finals of a Monterrey Challenger event last year.
Edmund remains cautious. “I played him in the first round of the Binghamton Challenger last year. I think that was three sets. I honestly can’t remember a huge amount of the match. It’s a good opportunity for him. Maybe on paper he is not as high ranked as someone like Gasquet. But, again, you have to respect the opponents. You have to stay in the present. Start looking elsewhere then you’ll get called out. I have always done that. There is a reason he’s in round two – because he’s playing well.”
