Kyle Edmund faces an historic all-British encounter against Andy Murray

Murray had never faced a compatriot on home soil before at tour level but he will now have played two in as many days at the Aegon Championships after he overcame Slovenian-born Bedene 6-3 6-4.

Edmund is regarded as a potential successor to Murray’s reign at the top of the British game and the 21-year-old has the chance to showcase his talent in a first competitive meeting against the world No 2.

It will also be the first time two British players have met in the last eight at Queen’s since the start of the Open era and the only time anywhere since Tim Henman beat Great Rusedski at Adelaide in 2002.

For now, however, it is Bedene at 58th in the world who sits closest to Murray in the rankings, and the pair have forged connections off the court, too, both taking advice from Davis Cup captain Leon Smith and hitting together during Britain’s successful run in the competition last year.

Edmund was given a free pass into the quarter-finals after today’s scheduled opponent Paul-Henri Mathieu pulled out injured.

The Frenchman, who knocked out another Briton, Dan Evans, in the first round, withdrew with a wrist problem.