Edmund flies flag alone as he prepares to face Rubin

Defeat yesterday for girls’ singles contestant Katy Dunne, on top of Andy Murray’s non-appearance and early exits for Laura Robson, Heather Watson and Sheffield doubles specialist Jonny Marray, means the 18-year-old is left to fly the flag for British tennis.

Edmund, the fifth seed, contests the third round of the boys’ singles today against Noah Rubin, of the United States.

A former US Open boys’ doubles champion, Edmund defeated Australia’s Bradley Mousley in three sets in the second round.

He began his campaign with a similarly tight three-set win over Elias Ymer of Switzerland.

Edmund, who was a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros last year, is three wins away from a place in the final. His best performance in a grand slam singles tournament came at the US Open in 2011, when he reached the semi-final.

This is his last summer in the junior ranks and he has already begun stepping up to senior level.

He has climbed to 443rd in the senior world rankings thanks mainly to a recent victory in a clay-court tournament in Florida.