Kyle Edmund joins Andy Murray in Rome exit after defeat to Juan Martin del Potro

Yorkshire's Kyle Edmund followed world No 1 Andy Murray out of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia after a straight-sets defeat against Juan Martin del Potro in Rome.
DEFEATED: Britain's Kyle Edmund. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PADEFEATED: Britain's Kyle Edmund. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA
DEFEATED: Britain's Kyle Edmund. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA

The 22-year-old produced a brave battle against the world No 34, breaking back to level the opening set at 5-5.

However, the experienced Argentinian, US Open champion in 2009, kept the pressure on by immediately forcing another break and then served out to take the first set 7-5.

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Edmund’s serve continued to be tested in the second set, where the British No 2 was involved in an heated exchange with the chair umpire over a disputed line call during a tense fifth game, which Del Potro went on to win before moving 5-2 ahead.

Andy Murray. Picture: PA/Andrew Medichini.Andy Murray. Picture: PA/Andrew Medichini.
Andy Murray. Picture: PA/Andrew Medichini.

Although Edmund, ranked 53 in the world, rallied to break and then hold to reduce the deficit to 4-5, it was only delaying the inevitable as Del Potro, who had defeated world No 11 Grigor Dimitrov in the first round, closed in on victory.

Del Potro, who helped Argentina win the 2016 Davis Cup, spurned two match points before a net return from Beverley’s Edmund saw him progress 7-5 6-4 in one hour and 46 minutes, safely through to the last 16 where he will face Kei Nishikori of Japan, who is seeded seventh.

Murray conceded he is “not playing good tennis” as his concerning run of form continued in Rome.

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The defending champion was ousted 6-2 6-4 by home favourite Fabio Fognini.

Andy Murray. Picture: PA/Andrew Medichini.Andy Murray. Picture: PA/Andrew Medichini.
Andy Murray. Picture: PA/Andrew Medichini.

It was his seventh loss of a disappointing year, a stat he did not register in 2016 until August, and he looks a far cry from the player that won five successive tournaments at the end of last season to climb to the top of the rankings.

The Scot, who turned 30 on Monday, will now return home before linking up with coach Ivan Lendl next week ahead of the French Open, which starts later this month.

“I am just not playing well,” Murray said. “I mean, the last couple of weeks, they have been tough and I haven’t played well.

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“I am just not playing good tennis and I need to try and work out how to turn that around.”

Maria Sharapova will have to wait until June 20 to discover whether she will get a wild card for direct entry to Wimbledon, after failing to get a French Open invite.

A decision is due to be taken at a meeting of the All England Club’s sub-committee on June 20.

If no wild card is awarded, the 30-year-old – on her comeback after a 15-month suspension for testing positive for meldonium –would need to negotiate her way through qualifying at Roehampton.

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