KYLE Edmund has made a winning start to his 2017 campaign.
The 21-year-old from Beverley defeated Ernesto Escobedo 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (8-6) to reach the second round of the Brisbane International in Australia today.
Edmund, who has risen to 45 in the world on the back of a successful season last year, reaching the fourth round of the US Open, reaped the benefit of winter training with British No 1 Sir Andy Murray.
It took British No 2 Edmund 2hr 10min to dispatch Californian hopeful Escobedo, who is world ranked 141, at the Queensland Tennis Centre.
The former Pocklington School student will next face a Frenchman – either sixth seed Lucas Pouille or Gilles Simon, who play each other overnight.
Johannesburg-born Edmund, who is more settled after buying an apartment in Wimbledon last year, defeated experienced duo Richard Gasquet and David Ferrer to reach the last 16 at Flushing Meadow, where his forehand was measured as the fastest in the world at 83mph, but the grounded Yorkshireman takes as much price in being honoured by his old school.
He explained: “Pocklington named the school tennis trophy after me.
“That means a lot just because I went to that school.
"I got texts off old teachers that I hadn’t heard from in seven or eight years.”
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