mtenis.com.pl

Young Brit comes ready to play on opening day in New York
#NextGen star Kyle Edmund ensured that his main draw debut at the US Open would be a memorable one by dismissing 13th seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 Monday to race into the second round. Edmund dropped just seven points on his first serve and fired 10 aces to claim his 13th match win of the season.
Making his US Open debut, Edmund fell behind a quick break in the third set, but reeled off five of the last six games to seal the victory after one hour and 41 minutes. It was the biggest win of the Brit's career and second over a Top 20 opponent. He had previously upset another Frenchman, Gilles Simon, at the Aegon Championships in Queen's Club earlier this year.
The 21 year old, No. 84 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, clubbed 40 winners to Gasquet’s 13, ensuring that the match was played on his terms. He next will play the winner of Lukas Lacko and Ernesto Escobedo.
Later today Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will play their first-round matches.

Q. Given the context of the match, the opponent, and the tournament, was that your best-ever win?
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, I think so. Yeah, I played really well. Yeah, on ranking I think, yeah, it's probably my best win. And the way I went about it, the way I played, a lot of things went well.
Yeah, definitely one of my best wins in my career. Yeah, very pleasing. Very encouraging the way I played, the way I handled myself, dealt with situations. I thought I was smart with the way I played when I needed to be in certain situations.
Yeah, a lot of good things. Yeah, days like this feel really good. You know, just lots of positives. There is definitely days where they are not like that, so, you know, that's when you put the work in.
I have had a few days like that over the past few weeks on the hard. Really haven't quite found my form, but luckily the match when I needed it it came good against a good opponent.
Q. Was there something about New York that lifted you?
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, I guess so. It's a Grand Slam, and you always get a little bit more excited about it. Yeah, to be honest, it's just been a really long trip. I haven't really felt too comfortable as much as -- well, coming from Davis Cup where I was playing really well, and then to come to Toronto, I guess you compare -- form was really good.
You're always comparing to how you're playing. Like as I said, I just didn't quite find that. It had been a long trip and stuff, so I just accepted the way I was playing and just, you know, sort of said, Look, this is the situation. You're playing a good player. You've got nothing to lose. Just go out there and play.
I knew after this tournament anyway I've got a bit of a break before Davis Cup in Asia. Either before Davis Cup or after Davis Cup, just depends on how I do.
So maybe that just relaxed me a little bit and made me enjoy it as well a bit more. You know, not playing so tense. Just played a lot freer.
So I definitely played better than I expected to be playing. The last few days actually have been a lot better than the start of the trip. So there were good signs. But it just already clicked today, so I'm very grateful for that.
Q. How has the pressure of playing and winning the Davis Cup helped you when it comes down to the Grand Slam tournaments?
KYLE EDMUND: Those two matches were a big thing for me. Just probably because I value them very highly. So in my head I knew what was at stake or maybe the pressure I put myself under. You know, however you want to put it.
I valued those matches very highly, and I targeted that just because I knew I had a good chance of playing them. And especially when Andy said he wasn't going to play, I knew I was definitely going to play. I was going to have the responsibility of playing two matches.
I really wanted to do well there, and obviously when I beat Lajovic it was a lot of relief because you wanted to do well. So I guess I played in a pressure environment, plus in the final it was an intense environment. So those absolutely definitely helped coming out there. You know, playing the 13th seed in the first round of a slam, you want to do well.
But, yeah, from having those experiences, they definitely do help me. No doubt about it.
Q. As a player, is it frustrating at all that you've put a lot into Davis Cup and the Olympics, and there is no ranking points at stake for those? It's been quite a big part of your summer, hasn't it, and not playing for points?
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah. It's just one of those things. I think -- well, like I said, I value them highly, so I wanted to play them. But, yeah, I don't know the reason why the ITF changed that. There were points last year; obviously not this year. And I would have gotten a nice chunk of points from Davis Cup, but it's just one of those things.
The way I look at it is I am 21. I still do have lots of years. So I'm not hanging on two tournaments for my ranking. You know, that doesn't make my ranking, those two tournaments or anything.
So I see it as building experience. Even though there is maybe not points in there, the experience from that will benefit me far more than the points in the long term.
So, yeah, that's just the way it is. I'm sitting around 80 at the minute, maybe with the points I could be sitting at sort of low 70s, high 60s. So there is a small jump, but as I said, that doesn't really concern me, you know. You want to be 30s, 20s, 10s. That's where you want to be -- 80/60 is not a huge difference, so I think the experience is more beneficial.
Q. Was there any degree of immaturity out there? I remember the Davis Cup final. We all remember it. Started off like a dream. But here, a break down in the third set and brought it back, which maybe you wouldn't have done 18 months ago.
KYLE EDMUND: No, yeah. I think it's, again, getting back to that experience. Just when you're more experienced you're a little bit probably more calmer in those situations in your head. You're more relaxed about it. You're not -- maybe because -- if it's happened the first time you're a bit unaware of what will happen, but maybe you're a bit calmer about the situation.
When I did go a break down I thought I didn't do too much wrong. I didn't make enough first serves. Maybe he was trying to get something going so he was playing a little bit more freer.
But the way I had been playing, I was playing very consistently and I wasn't playing out of myself. I was very confident with what I was doing, so I knew it wasn't going to take much to get that back.
So I just remained calm. Yeah, I had a good game to break him, and then because I got that momentum, it really helped me kick through towards the end of the match.
Again, those experiences definitely do help, and I think I'm getting some good ones now.
Q. When you beat someone like Gasquet so convincingly, as well, how much belief do you get that you can beat these kind of top players more and more regularly?
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, it gives you more belief, absolutely.
I had a good summer. I beat some good players, and, well, I beat a guy Simon, but then had a good experience against Andy. Those matches, top players, give you more experience, more confidence with your game, that you are able to take it to him. Especially the way I play my game is very much on the offensive, wanting to take it to the opponent.
So I have to be expressive. I have to express myself, and that's the way I play.
So it gives me confidence doing that. Definitely Davis Cup I expressed myself very well. Was very aggressive on that weekend. And today I thought I was aggressive but playing smart at the right times; not being too overly aggressive. I got the balance right.
That's against a good opponent, so that gives you more confidence about your game.
Q. How did you feel with the heat out there? In the end, did you feel like you would have hoped it went to four or even five sets in those conditions?
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, I mean, it's difficult to say. I would always back myself to do it. Like going out there, if I needed to play five sets I was ready to play five sets, you know. I had done all the preparation I normally do for five sets and stuff.
So, yeah, I would have felt confident doing it. It's hard to say in hindsight how you would have coped, but, yeah, it was pretty hot out there.
I don't think it was hot as last year. I thought it was more humid last year; a lot of pullouts last year. So I think that just shows in itself.
It's hot but you adapt to it. The body adapts. I have been in America, what, four or five weeks now, so your body does adjust to it.
Yeah, I guess I wasn't out there about an hour and a half or something, so it wasn't that long compared to other people.
Q. Do you know anything about Escobedo?
KYLE EDMUND: No. I actually played him in the first round of Binghamton challenger last year, so I think that was three sets. I honestly can't remember a huge amount of the match because it was a year ago.
I will watch a little bit of tape of him. You see a few things you pick up. You see his game style. But, yeah, I mean, all these matches here are going to be -- you have to get your game out there.
But I'm pleased with the way I played today, so I think the main thing for me is trying to keep that going, and basically what I did today, try to put that in my next match and I'm sure you'll have a good chance.
Q. I think he's a wildcard. Always a tough match. A great opportunity to make round 3?
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, it's a good opportunity. Maybe, yeah, on paper not as high ranked as someone like Gasquet. But, again, you have to respect the opponents. The worst thing you can do in sport is get ahead of yourself, get too forward thinking, start looking what's going on.
Definitely not -- you have to look at one match at a time, look at the guy in front of you right now, stay in the present. You start looking elsewhere then you'll get called out. I have always done that. You have to give respect to your opponents. He is in round 2, so there is a reason he's in round 2 is: because he's playing well.
But, yeah, I definitely look forward to it for sure.
Q. I know you kind of touched on this the other day, but is there an element of the sort of head-to-head between you and Evo for the second Davis Cup spot at this tournament?
KYLE EDMUND: I guess so like in terms of the last tie and there is not that much time. So I guess it's almost like whoever is maybe doing well at the time or has that bit more confidence.
But, again, it's Leon's decision, how he sees it, how he sees matchups.
Again, we will see what happens. We have actually had a lot of ties over the past few years now because -- and that's a good problem, I guess, because we have been doing well.
It's sort of like another tie that's come up. So, yeah, for me, I will just concentrate on here, first.
But, yeah, it's just really is Leon's decision. Nothing more to say than that, because you do what you do, as in play your match. Results give you a good chance of getting that, getting a pick.
We'll see. I mean, it's just one of those things. I mean, Dan's obviously had a good summer. He's had some good results. I'm sure my result today would have helped things. Yeah, we'll see.

Q. Did you talk to Ryan before about the challenge of going out against a wildcard? Having had such a great result and coming back and backing it up? Did you talk about that?
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah. I mean, I definitely wasn't going to go out there and think it's an easy match now because he's a lower-ranked player. You'd be inexperienced to do that and a bit naive. You definitely respect him.
Yeah, I just had to go out there and, yeah, play my game first. There's no point doing anything different to what I was doing because I felt really good on court.
Yeah, I think today was a tougher match in terms of physicality and stuff, longer rallies and a lot more close points to tough out. So that was a real positive, that I got through that and the way I did in straight sets.
I thought I probably played a little bit better against Gasquet, but it felt better to come through this one because I knew I really had to tough it out. That was a very -- that was a positive, basically.
Q. Did you relax a bit after you played that set point in the first set? Felt like you played better after that.
KYLE EDMUND: To be honest, I can't really remember. Yeah, I don't know. Obviously I remember the first set being -- first part of the first set being a bit tensive.
Well, I got the break but wasn't just flowing the way I wanted to and the way I was doing against Gasquet. Yeah, it was important just to keep tough.
I was pleased when I broke him and served out the set. It was almost then I got really going in that second set. Was a good battle.
So it was a big difference going one set all and two sets love up. That was good. But every set was close in its own way. I was pleased each time it got to a nitty-gritty situation.
I did pretty well, I thought.
Q. In the second set you had a lot of break points which you didn't convert. How tough is it to keep your composure at that point? And if you were playing Isner in the next round, how important is it to take those chances?
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, it's important to definitely take your chances when you get them. That's what everyone wants to do, is when they get that chance they want to take it.
At the same time, you know, you're not going to get bundles of chances every time. You know that.
But at the same time I was creating a lot of chances quite often. In my head I was thinking, You're creating good pressure here. Just keep patient. You're going to get him.
Some of the break points he was playing really well. I almost thought, you know, he hit some winners and was, you know, taking the ball on, so sometimes you thought you might not make it.
And to break him in the third, he missed the forehand long. That was obviously because he was going for his shots.
So I was just keeping patient. In my head I was thinking, It will come. Don't panic.
So, yeah, I was pleased. It was good that you're creating lots of opportunities. You just want to take them as quick as possible.
Q. Are you really looking forward to the Davis Cup semifinal?
KYLE EDMUND: Absolutely. Yeah. I'm not really thinking about it too much just because I am here trying t play these matches. But of course, I'm not not looking forward to it, that's for sure. You know, it's not often you get to play a semifinal of a Davis Cup, so you're always pumped to play them.
That's if I get picked. That's Leon's decision. That's the whole -- that's what comes with team competitions, is that it's a team that is picked. Individual competitions are just about you and you know you're going to play. We'll see if I get picked or not. If I get picked, I'll obviously give it my best.
I loved playing in the final. Even though I lost, I enjoyed the experience. And obviously playing the quarters, I enjoyed being on court competing and getting a result for the team.
If it comes round, then I'll definitely look forward to it for sure.
Q. They both played very long matches. How important could the freshness or fitness be when it comes to playing your match?
KYLE EDMUND: Obviously getting through your matches in straight sets is always important, I think, and definitely helps, you know. At least you can play six sets, and that's what I have done. I'm happy with that.
I think everyone is different in terms of if it's important, some people have better fitness levels than others and are more efficient and more able to go longer.
So, yeah, depends who your opponent is. Some guys don't mind playing long matches. Some guys struggle to recover after long matches. Just depends who you're playing. From my point of view, I'm happy that I have done it in straight sets. It's always positive doing that.
Q. Have you watched how Andy has obviously improved his fitness, his techniques for doing that over the years? If so, have you been able to take anything on board from that?
KYLE EDMUND: Do you mean like what has he done to...
Q. Yes.
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, well, he does a lot of hours on court. I think that's no secret, that doing the hours and putting in the hours is going to help you on court.
I found when I've grown up that it is good getting in a gym and doing like track intervals or doing weights, but nothing properly replicates doing hours on court. Tennis movements are very specific. Tennis -- being match tight and tennis fitness is something different, in my opinion, anyway.
I think he's done a lot of hours on court. He's obviously put in a lot of the physical work off court which helps you on court. But, yeah, I mean, I have always -- when I'm not doing tournament weeks I have always tried to, or my coach has, to get me on court long hours. You know, a few hours each day. If you're getting three hours each day with maybe a lighter session in the middle of the week just to keep it fresh, then I think you've got a good base physically going into five-set matches.
Q. Do you think that you're playing some your best tennis ever? And do you think that that has anything to do with the sort of environment around the US Open, something to do with a relaxed...
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, I think I'm playing well. It's tough to say you're playing your best just because of different conditions and situations, different surfaces. But I'm playing well. I feel good on court. Trying to take it one match at a time.
But, yeah, I think being at Grand Slams definitely, don't know, maybe gives you an extra bit of a lift. I definitely find there is more attention and more people, first of all, around, so it can get quite busy.
Sometimes I do find those situations quite energy-zapping, just because there is a lot to do. It's not so -- everything has to be a bit more planned out, a bit more structured. That's what I found anyway being at the slams.
So I have learned you need to manage your energy levels better, your emotions. So, yeah, I think the main thing is it's just exciting being at a Grand Slam in New York. I think it's obviously once every year. It's a big event. So it probably does give you a bit of an extra lift even if you don't think it.
Q. There will be a lot of attention on the next match. It is against John. He's completed his match. There will be a lot of eyeballs watching that one, for sure. Talk about your anticipation of that matchup.
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, I mean, he's got a good serve so it's going to be getting about as many balls back as much as I can and getting in the rallies. Yeah, I don't know. I have not really thought about it. I have just finished my match now.
It doesn't -- to be honest, doesn't matter if there is people watching or not people watching. I just have to go about myself and do what I do and what I have been doing in terms of my process and how I want to go out on court and play.
You know, nothing changes in terms of that aspect. So, yeah.
Q. The Argentine players, you are watching them.
KYLE EDMUND: Argentine? Yeah.
Q. And especially about Juan Martin. You know, he's coming back after a long injury. How do you see that? What are your thoughts on that?
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, I mean, they have good depth as a nation. I think their record in Davis Cup over the, you know, past 10-odd years has been very good. They have consistently been in the World Group and stuff. Shows they have always had players playing at a high level.
Obviously Del Potro is the best player because he's got a very big game, very dangerous game. So you saw at the Olympics how well he was playing and stuff, and, you know, how much -- what's the word? Outcome he was getting.
Like, you know, shots were very penetrating and it's a big game, basically. You have to play well against him, because if he's on form then it's difficult to play.
But I have never played him. It's just from what I have been watching. I have played a few Argentinian players in challengers and stuff. Schwartzman, played Pella at Indian Wells. Practiced with Delbonis a little bit.
So, yeah, I know them a little bit, but not a huge amount. We'll see. Probably Andy probably knows a bit more about Del Potro than I do in that sense.
Q. Did you play Isner in Paris?
KYLE EDMUND: Yes.
Q. Do you remember that?
KYLE EDMUND: I don't remember. Yeah, I remember playing okay. I didn't play as well as I wanted to, but of course I guess when you lose you always want to play better.
Yeah, just the main challenge is trying to get the balls back in court as much as possible, just dealing with his serve.
I didn't feel I hit my serve as well as I could, especially against his. You want to be taking it to tiebreaks, and I don't think there was one tiebreak in that match.
It would be important to serve well, make sure I control what I can. Just taking care of my own service games. That's probably one thing I learned from that.
But, yeah, he's got a big explosive game because he's a big guy, so I've got to deal with that. But, you know, I'm feeling good on court, so hopefully I can make some inroads.
Q. What does it mean to be in the third round?
KYLE EDMUND: I'm obviously very pleased. Yeah, my first third round of a Grand Slam. You know, it's great to do that. You're obviously still in the moment, so you want to keep winning and stuff.
I'm pleased the way I have gone about it, not dropping a set. I think that's very positive.
Yeah, just happy. I think the experiences I've gathered over time have really helped me in these situations.
So, yeah, keep going, basically.

Q. Must be a challenge for you in some ways to keep your feet on the ground having such a great week and the prospect of playing Novak Djokovic.
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, it's been a great week so far, absolutely. Tonight was a really good win. I was pleased with my consistency throughout the match. Weren't too many dips. On that stage, as well, in front of a good crowd, a big crowd, against John in his own country, I was pleased with the performance I put out there.

Yeah, very, very encouraging. Just happy I won at the minute, not much else. Just sort of taking it all in.

But, yeah, these are the situations you want to be in, what you dream about, reaching the fourth round of a slam now, getting the opportunity to play the world No. 1. Yeah, very positive.

Q. What was the difference between tonight and the French Open? You might have expected clay to favor you; quicker courts here to favor him.
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, probably learning from my last match definitely helped me. Yeah, I mean, I play well on clay, but he's also a top-20 player and he's a good player. He beat me straight sets in the French.

I think I just learnt from it. I feel good about myself at the minute. I knew going into the match I had a good chance, a good opportunity, but just the nature of the match was a very different match than the last two matches.

Yeah, you've got to be able to play well against all different styles of players. That's important. Today it was obviously about taking the chances when I had them, because they're not going to come frequently.

I think last match I had like 16 breakpoints. I knew I wasn't going to get that today. I had to be sharper when they came.

Yeah, it's nice from the last performance. It obviously shows I've improved my match play. That's obviously encouraging.

Q. What did you learn from the match against Novak in Miami? What did you do well there and what do you need to do better?
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, he's obviously a great player. What everyone sees, how you play against him, he's tough to break down. Makes a lot of balls. You know, very quick around the court. He has lots of good abilities. He's world No. 1. He's good in all areas.

I feel I had some good success in that match. In the middle of the match I started taking it to him a bit more. That's my game. That's what I've been doing this tournament. I need to continue to do that.

What my game is is trying to be aggressive. It's going to be no different when I play him on Sunday. That's what's been working. No point in changing it.

I just look forward to the experience, to be honest. I'm sure we'll be on another nice court, like tonight. Being it's my first fourth round in a Grand Slam, I'll just embrace it, enjoy the moment, and obviously do my best, like tonight.

Q. What steps do you take to try to maintain your mental composure in a match like tonight where the crowd is behind John largely?
KYLE EDMUND: I don't know. You're just playing. It's a long match, so you can't be too up and down. It's good atmosphere. Obviously more were supporting him, but I also had some good support. Some Brits out here and stuff.

I think it's just normal. You embrace it more than anything. It's US Open third round. It's pretty much packed. It's on a big court. It's a great experience. It's a good atmosphere.

I did find it a little more like a Davis Cup atmosphere. It was pretty loud. So I think that was nice.

Yeah, it's such a long match, you just go about doing your own thing. You don't try to get involved too much with other things. I was pleased with how I handled it.

It was how I expected: he'd get a little more support. It's normal. We're in America, so it was fine.

Q. You've already gone farther than you've ever gone in a slam. Do you go in the next match with absolutely nothing to lose?
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, probably. That's how I approached it tonight. I had nothing to lose really. But at the same time I know I'm in a good place. Yeah, just go out there and do my best. Nothing really more.

You know, I definitely don't have anything to lose in this one. I'll just go out there and do my best. Simple as that.

Q. Have you always been able to sort of maintain a calm composure on court? When you were younger, did you ever go through a phase of brattishness or anything like that?
KYLE EDMUND: No, I've always been pretty much like that. I haven't had a dramatic behavior change or anything. I've always been quite calm. You obviously go through your moments. Everyone's human. People get angry, annoyed. People have emotion. People play calm. Everyone's different.

I like to keep things simple, keep in a steady bracket, not too high, not too low. I think that helps my tennis. So, yeah.

Q. Looking in your box during the match, they all seemed, outwardly at least, like they expected you to compete at that level. Did you feel that, too? Do you feel maybe not that you expected to win, but you had a really good chance going in?
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, I obviously believe in myself that I can win, yeah. Any match I believe I can win. That's the mentality you've got to have.

I think if you go on court unsure if you're going to win, it's probably only going to go one way, to be honest. I always believe I have the win. I back myself. Doesn't always go like that, but it's the right mentality to have.

But, yeah, you put in the hours. It's no secret. You put in the hours, you put in the hard work, and then you have belief. Generally what you need to train is how you want to play on court. You don't train one way and then turn up on the match court and play another way.

When I train, I train the way I want to play in the match, and that's being aggressive and stuff. I know I can do it. It's just getting out on court and doing it. You have to have belief, definitely, 100%.

Q. You mentioned the court you played on today. Chances are you'll be on Ashe against Novak. Have you had a chance to spend any time in there? Have you practiced there? Have you got any practice lined up?
KYLE EDMUND: No, the only one hit I've ever had in there was on Sunday with Andy. We hit for like an hour and a quarter. That's it really. It's probably a good thing I got to do that because otherwise I wouldn't have had any experience.

Yeah, it's obviously a very big court. But, yeah, we'll see. I mean, it's great to play on all these different courts around the world. I'm getting more exposure on the tour level now. It will be very exciting. I guess it will be very loud, as well, if it's anything to go by tonight.

Q. Do you have any view on the fact that Novak has played 32 minutes of tennis since the first round and you've played three good matches? Might he just be a little bit rusty?
KYLE EDMUND: I don't know. I mean, you'll have to ask him that, if he feels rusty. For me, if he played matches or not, he's going to be tough to play, isn't he? He's a good player.

He consistently plays well. That's one thing I've always noticed. He puts a good level consistently. You would expect that from him on Sunday.

So, you know, like you say, he hasn't played two full matches now so he may be a bit fresher. He may have wanted to play more balls, but that's only something he could answer.

Q. He was very complimentary about you in Miami. Have you had any sort of chats, verbal interactions, since then?
KYLE EDMUND: Not really. Obviously say hi and stuff just when we see each other. But we saw each other in Rio just as we were passing practice, and that was just after Davis Cup. He said he watched all the matches and he congratulated me on that.

Yeah, like I said, last time Boris Becker sent me a text saying, Well done. So they watched it and stuff. That's something I'm obviously very grateful. It's nice of them to do that. It's good class from them.

Yeah, that's all he really said. Yeah, I mean, I respect him massively. It will be a tough match, just like any other match really.

Q. Dan is obviously having a great week as well. Andy is having a fantastic summer. All three of you are having a great year. How much of it does rub off on each other? Do you feel you're plowing your own furrow really?
KYLE EDMUND: I think it's great. We're all doing really well. It's a really good thing, I think. We're going up and up. Obviously Andy isn't going up. He's been there for ages. Yeah, me and Dan are going up now, which is great.

But it's great to see other Brits doing well. Even Jo. She's doing well consistently now. Her ranking reflects it. I think it's a real positive.

It does rub off I think on each other. It's great seeing other people do well. It has that positive vibe. It's the same in Davis Cup. We all watch each other wanting them to win and do well. I think that just carries over into the events.

Q. What did you take from that? Must have been a bit tough, especially the first two sets.
KYLE EDMUND: Yeah, I mean, just come off. Just enjoyed the experience. Yeah, it was obviously a tough match. Came off a lot happier than I was during the match just 'cause I got something going and started to impose myself a lot better. So that was good.
But, yeah, just a lot of learning to do from it, which is a really good thing. You know, to play the world No. 1 on the biggest tennis court in the world, doesn't get much better than that.
It's been a great tournament for me. Loads and loads of positives, the way I've been playing. The good thing is, I feel like there's a lot of stuff I can improve on and get better, as well, and the level I'm playing at.
Yeah, obviously you don't want to go out of a tournament. That's human. But I'm happy with how I've been playing.
Q. Did it surprise you at all the way he came flying out of the blocks like that after he'd only played six games in the previous six days?
KYLE EDMUND: No, no. I said this in the last press conference, that he's going to come out and play at a high level. If you watch him play, he's playing at a high level consistently. He's been doing that for a long, long time. He's good at that, in coming out and putting a level on court that he can maintain. So I wasn't surprised.
He's No. 1 in the world. The No. 1 in the world is based on a ranking that is year-round. It's not necessarily if you have one good tournament. He's had good tournaments consistently through, year-round.
That means he has to play well a lot of the time. That's what he does.
Q. What have you learned about yourself and your game in this tournament?
KYLE EDMUND: What have I learned about myself? Well, it's given me a lot more belief in my game. Not that I didn't believe in my game. But it's nice to actually do it on a big stage against some good players, you know, two top-20 players, a guy that was playing well.
It was a tough match against Escobedo, so three good wins there that I managed different styles, different games. It's nice to know you can come out and adapt to situations.
I'm getting better and better each time at that. Yeah, I'm just pleased with how it's gone. To win three best-of-five sets, I've never done in my career. It was nice I've been consistently able to do that.
Q. What are the specifics you have to work on in your own mind?
KYLE EDMUND: I mean, nothing different to what I've always been working on. I need to get my serve better. Obviously my forehand's my strength, but that needs to continue to develop, because otherwise it stands still and people get better as well.
Everything needs to improve. It's like a constant process of trying to get better. You know, you see how well Djokovic moves.
That's the standard he's putting out there. I've got to get better at my movement. I got to get better at my shot management, when to pull the trigger, when to rally. It's a constant process.
Yeah, like I said, it's nice that I'm playing well, I've had really good wins, but there's still more room for improvement, which is exciting.
Q. How did you feel about playing tonight? Were you nervous?
KYLE EDMUND: You have a little bit of nerves. I think it's exciting nerves. You're wanting to go out there an play. It's a little bit of an unknown as well because I've never played a match on that court in front of that crowd, so it's a new experience for me.
So, yeah, you're just anxious because you want to go out there and experience it. That's what I was looking forward to. Also the challenge of playing world No. 1, you know it's going to be tough when you go out there.
I just knew that I didn't have anything to lose. I just wanted to go out there and just be free and play my game. I did a lot better job of that in the third set, definitely.
Q. I think you'll move up to 55 then after the tournament. A year from now, what's the target?
KYLE EDMUND: Don't know. Hopefully injury-free; improve from where I am now. I don't know. It's tough to look a year ahead.
I just try and stay in the now almost and what I need to do to get better and stuff. It's tough to predict what I want to do.
If you look back a year ago, losing last round in quallies, where I was with my game, now where I'm at with my game, making fourth round, it's nice to know I have improved over that year.
Hopefully this time next year I can look back at the same thing and say, Yeah, my game has improved.
Q. Tomorrow morning del Potro will be playing on the same court you played a few minutes ago. Will you watch that game, considering maybe he will be an opponent within a few days in Davis Cup?
KYLE EDMUND: He's playing first on tomorrow?
Q. Yes.
KYLE EDMUND: I have no idea. I don't know. I don't have any plans right now. I've just come off court. Obviously I'll be looking to head back at some stage, back to the UK. Yeah, it's tough to answer that question. I don't know what I'm going to be doing.
Q. Which are your thoughts on del Potro's comeback?
KYLE EDMUND: I've never practiced with him. I've never played him. So, yeah, I don't know what it's like to be on court with him.
Obviously watching him he has a big, explosive game. It's exciting to watch. He takes on balls. He likes to hit winners. He's dangerous, of course. You can see his improvement the last months, how well he's been doing, obviously beat Novak in Rio.
From what I've seen, he's obviously been playing well here. He's getting a lot better since his injury. He's won this event. He's a past champion here, so that speaks for itself, how good he is.