KYLE Edmund has started his build-up to the US Open with a victory.

The 22-year-old former Pocklington School pupil defeated Cyprus' Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 7-5 in the first round of the BB&T Atlanta Open.

Beverley-born Edmund, who is making his debut in the hard-court tournament, triumphed over the 2015 runner-up in an hour and 24 minutes.

Both players struggled to find their first serve, with Edmund at only 45 per cent, but his second serve was much safer, and he dropped only one point in five service games, breaking Baghdatis to love in the sixth game in a run of nine successive points.

The second set was closer, with the unseeded Baghdatis saving three break points in the ninth game to stay in touch, but that only delayed defeat as he lost his serve two games later after several errors.

Fifth seed Edmund, who is world-ranked 45, 30 places higher than his 32-year-old opponent, now plays Germany's in-form Peter Gojowczyk in the last 16 tomorrow night.

The world No 108, who is playing in the tournament by special exemption, beat Argentinian Guido Pella 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) in his first-round clash.

The 28-year-old German reached the semi-finals of the grass-court event last week at Newport, Rhode Island, having been the only one of 12 men's entrants to play in the Aegon Ilkley Trophy and win a round at Wimbledon.