LONDON – Exiting the Aegon Championships on Monday, Kyle Edmund is drawing inspiration from ten-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal as his problems on the grass continues.
The 22-year-old was edged out in three sets by Canadian rising star Denis Shapovalov. Edmund was in contention of winning the match throughout, but a nightmare service game at 4-5 in the final set destroyed his chances of progressing to round two.
“The match was dominated by the Serve and the aggressor behind the serve. That was the way that really the whole match went. Wasn’t a lot of rhythm in the whole match.” He reflected afterwards.
Despite grass-courts being the pinnacle of his home country, Edmund has experienced difficulty on the surface throughout his career. So far in his professional career, he has reached only one quarter-final on the grass at Queen’s in 2016. During that tournament he stunned Gilles Simon in the first round before receiving a walkover in the second. Discounting retirements, Edmund has never won back-to-back matches in a grass-court event outside of the juniors.
“I have lost matches on grass; I have won matches on grass. So I don’t think grass has anything to do with it. It’s the same for everyone.”
The positive outlook displayed by Edmund is inspired by the ‘king of clay’ Rafael Nadal. Like the Brit, Nadal relishes the clay season, but is nowhere near as consistent on the grass due to past injury issues. Still the Spaniard has managed to shine in the UK by claiming two Wimbledon titles. An achievement Edmund admires.
“If someone asks you, What’s Rafa’s weakest surface? Everyone is going to go, Grass. But he’s won two Wimbledons, which shows that just because you think or people think that you’re not as good as that on that surface doesn’t mean you can’t play on it.” Said Edmund.
“I try and view it that way, that it’s just a different surface.”
Edmund will be drawing upon Nadal’s example, as he tries to end his losing streak at Wimbledon. He will play in the main draw for the fifth consecutive year, but he is yet to win a match. It is the only major where the Brit hasn’t won a match.
The world No.47 will return to action next week at the Eastbourne International.
