Toronto, Canada
It was another disappointing early exit for Kyle Edmund. After a strong start to 2018 including a semi-final appearance at the Australian Open, the World No. 16 has now been sent home early in two straight tournaments. The 23-year old was manhandled from start to finish by Diego Schwartzman 6-1 6-2 in just 61 minutes on Court No. 4 at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto, Canada.
Schwartzman, just four spots ahead of Edmund in the World rankings, was dominant from the start. He broke Edmund in his first service game of the opening set and did it again to go up 5-1 a short time later, Edmund making a lot of unforced errors throughout. Schwartzman held serve at Love to win the opening set in just 24 minutes.
It was more of the same in the second. A big backhand down the line from the fiesty Argentine gave him a 4-2 lead and then in the next game an Edmund forehand into the net gave Schwartzman a double break and a 5-2 lead.
As he did in the opening stanza, Schwartzman served out the match at Love and Edmund was sent packing in just over an hour.
Perhaps still not one hundred-percent after a bout of tonsillitis after Wimbledon, Edmund never mustered up a single break point chance in the match. After losing to Andy Murray in the second round in Washington in three sets and on Monday night in Toronto, the British No.1 will have to regroup for another Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati next week.
The first head to head meeting between the two players won’t be one for the highlight reels but last year’s Rogers Cup quarter-finalist will take it. Schwarzman the No 11 seed, will await the winner of the Sam Querrey vs Adrian Mannarino match in the next round.
@Sportshorn
