The Johannesburg-born Brit Kyle Edmund comes back from a break down in the fifth set to defeat Australian Open No 11 seed Kevin Anderson 6-7(4), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 at Melbourne Park on Monday.
World No 49 Edmund recovered from a 0-2 deficit in the fifth set to spring an early upset against Anderson, withstanding 35 aces in his victory that lasted three hours, 59 minutes.
It did not take long for a classic to unfold at the 2018 Australian Open. And if the rest of the fortnight lives up to how it has begun, fans around the world are in for a treat.
But what stood out on Show Court 3 against Anderson was his fighting spirit. Many players would put their heads down when broken by the massive-serving South African hours into a tough battle. Yet Edmund came right back with tremendous returning to break in the very next game.
And while Anderson did well to save two break points from 15/40 at 3-3 in the final set, Edmund seized his third opportunity two points later to gain a lead he would not relinquish, earning two more holds without dropping a point on serve to clinch the triumph.
Edmund will next confront Denis Istomin, who battled through a tough fourth set to defeat Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6(3). – African News Agency (ANA),
