Australian Open: Edmund has work cut out to stay in hunt

The Yorkshireman provided another injury scare for British tennis when he collapsed on court in Brisbane last week after going over on his ankle.

He pulled out of this week’s tournament in Auckland but is content with how he has felt in practice in Melbourne.

He said: “I’ve practised three or four days now, two hours a day on court.

“Just a precaution in Auckland really before this week. It feels good, I’m fine with it.”

Edmund is the lone British man in the singles draw following the withdrawal of Andy Murray and losses for Cameron Norrie and Liam Broady in qualifying.

But the 23-year-old has his work cut out if he is to make it beyond the tournament’s opening day after drawing 11th seed and US Open runner-up Kevin Anderson.

The pair have met once before, in the second round of the French Open last summer, when Anderson recovered from two sets to one down to win in five.

“It will be a tough match,” said Edmund. “Obviously he had a really good year last year, played well the start of this year. It was a good match in Paris, I played well. Of course it’s very small margins. I’ve worked on stuff. Hopefully I can learn from that and do better.

“My serve’s improved and putting some more balls into play on the returns is definitely going to be a good one for me against Kevin.”

Edmund was frustrated to finish it virtually where he started at 50 in the rankings.