Davis Cup 2019: Kyle Edmund leads Team GB into quarter-finals after Andy Murray fitness struggle

Stepping up: Kyle Edmund celebrates his victory over Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin.
Getty Images
Joe Krishnan21 November 2019

Kyle Edmund produced a stellar performance to send Great Britain through to the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup after a win over Kazakhstan.

The 24-year-old was selected ahead of Andy Murray amid concerns over the Scot's fitness, with the 32-year-old admitting he was not "in the best shape" to compete in Madrid.

But Edmund more than justified his place with a superb performance to beat Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 15 minutes.

The Kazakh number two is ranked two places higher than Edmund, who has had a poor season and only clinched his spot in the Davis Cup team at the last minute by virtue of a decent run at the Paris Masters.

But here he struck his big groundstrokes with authority, pounced on any short balls and hung tough under pressure, saving all the break points he faced.

Sidelined: Murray was rested amid concerns over his fitness levels  Photo: Reuters
Reuters

Edmund's victory was met with delight by the sizeable contingent of travelling fans and silenced the enthusiastic Kazakh band, which made such an impression at April's Fed Cup tie between the two countries in London.

"Today I just wanted to go on court and really give it my all," the Yorkshireman said:

"It was such a buzz to thrive off this crowd. Davis Cup, playing for your country, it doesn't get any better."

Dan Evans beat Alexander Bublik in the second rubber to confirm Britain's place in the last eight and they face Germany on Friday evening.

Additional reporting from the Press Association.

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