Weeks 26 & 27: Wimbledon men's main draw (grass)

RJA · Hall of fame

RE: Weeks 26 & 27: Wimbledon men's main draw (grass)

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

Spoke with Greg Rudseski yesterday about Kyle's draw, he said it was a tough draw but he believed if Kyle had a good day then he had a fair shot of beating Janowicz, Kyle's team has done research on Janowicz too (strengths/weaknesses) to ensure he has the best possible chance.

steven · Tennis legend

Probabilities of R1 wins implied by bookies' odds:

Andy 98%
James 30%
Kyle 17%

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Unlike the Daily Mail drivel, I liked the BBC Sport interview with Kyle, with some intelligent analysis from Kyle, as we've come to expect.

I completely agreed with his comments:

"For me, it's physical," said Edmund. "You're playing men; they're fully developed and they're very strong. They can go five sets any day.

"I'm still a teenager and if I was to go five sets with a top pro, and then do that again, and again, it would be a struggle for me. I don't think in terms of ball-striking there's too much difference."

When Richard Gasquet made a similar comment 10 or so years back, the commentator said, smiling, "well, just win the match in three sets then"

So, Kyle, best of luck and aim for three sets!

philwrig · Hall of fame

It'll be interesting to see how Kyle deals with the extra pressure/expectation on him probably for the first time after his impressive efforts in Eastbourne, something tells me he'll do just fine. My best guess is a 4 set loss, but it will be fascinating to see it all unfold. Oli had a an impressive Wimby debut but I'm expecting an even more impressive one from young Kyle.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

When I made my BOTB predictions, I was so tempted to put Kyle down for a win but in the end, head ruled heart.

I also think he will give a more than creditable performance, but what is already impressing me is how he is handling the off court pressure, the media etc. Not that I am surprised in all honesty.

Sort of hoping that once the WImbledon experience is over, the press leave him alone for a period of time (a year), while he continues his progress. A stretch in the USA after Wimbledon is probably the best option away from too much limelight.

PS This is one BOTB prediction that I really hope I have got wrong.

TMH · Futures qualifying

Does anyone know how Kyle got on against Quinzi at the Hurlingham Club? I've looked around but can't find it anywhere. Was on the OOP for yesterday, but there is no mention of it on the Results page.

RJA · Hall of fame

philwrig wrote:
It'll be interesting to see how Kyle deals with the extra pressure/expectation on him probably for the first time after his impressive efforts in Eastbourne, something tells me he'll do just fine. My best guess is a 4 set loss, but it will be fascinating to see it all unfold. Oli had a an impressive Wimby debut but I'm expecting an even more impressive one from young Kyle.

In fairness a lot depends on Janowicz, if he plays his best tennis then the best we can hope for is a respectable straight sets defeat and to be blunt a drubbing is a very realistic possibility. That is no reflection on Kyle simply a recognition that Janowicz is capable of playing at a level that Kyle can't reasonably be expected to compete with at this stage of his career.

Tennis36 · Masters Series Champion

RJA wrote:
philwrig wrote:
It'll be interesting to see how Kyle deals with the extra pressure/expectation on him probably for the first time after his impressive efforts in Eastbourne, something tells me he'll do just fine. My best guess is a 4 set loss, but it will be fascinating to see it all unfold. Oli had a an impressive Wimby debut but I'm expecting an even more impressive one from young Kyle.
In fairness a lot depends on Janowicz, if he plays his best tennis then the best we can hope for is a respectable straight sets defeat and to be blunt a drubbing is a very realistic possibility. That is no reflection on Kyle simply a recognition that Janowicz is capable of playing at a level that Kyle can't reasonably be expected to compete with at this stage of his career.

not really, kyle has a big enough serve and a big enough game to hold games depending on his game i think, dont personally think janowicz is anything special

RJA · Hall of fame

Tennis36 wrote:
RJA wrote:
philwrig wrote:
It'll be interesting to see how Kyle deals with the extra pressure/expectation on him probably for the first time after his impressive efforts in Eastbourne, something tells me he'll do just fine. My best guess is a 4 set loss, but it will be fascinating to see it all unfold. Oli had a an impressive Wimby debut but I'm expecting an even more impressive one from young Kyle.
In fairness a lot depends on Janowicz, if he plays his best tennis then the best we can hope for is a respectable straight sets defeat and to be blunt a drubbing is a very realistic possibility. That is no reflection on Kyle simply a recognition that Janowicz is capable of playing at a level that Kyle can't reasonably be expected to compete with at this stage of his career.
not really, kyle has a big enough serve and a big enough game to hold games depending on his game i think, dont personally think janowicz is anything special

I'm not a big fan of Janowicz but he does have a very high level when everything clicks. In Rome he beat Tsonga and Gasquet before pushing Federer (who was playing well that week) fairly close. If he can do that it is far from inconceivable that he could give Kyle a good hiding. On balance I don't think it will happen but it is a possibility and no one should be critical of Kyle if it happens.

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Kyles match is exciting - Janowicz is a decent draw in many senses, since has won less ATP level grass matches than Kyle this year. He also lost to Novikov at the USO, who was similar to Kyle in both playstyles (aggressive, powerful groundies + big serve) and the fact he was a young WC playing on home turf. Janowicz throws in lots of strange results, and can go off the boil during matches too and I think Kyle's calm demenour might help to rattle JJ too.

I imagine it will be a matter of staying in the set and hoping to catch Janowicz out on the breaker. Obviously its a massive task and the odds reflect Kyles underdog status, but if he can settle and play his best I think it will be exciting, or at least competitive viewing.

steven · Tennis legend

With new (24 Jun) rankings:

L128: (2) Andy Murray WR 2 v Benjamin Becker (GER) WR 92 (CH 38 in 2007) - H2H 1-0, 4&6, Queen's QF this year - 3rd on Centre

L128: (WC) James Ward WR 219 v Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE) WR 75 (CH 33 in 2010, when he reached the Wimbledon QFs) - 3rd on C12

L128: (WC) Kyle Edmund WR 385 v (24) Jerzy Janowicz (POL) WR 22 (= CH, R3 last year) - 2nd on C3

Spectator · All-time great

Janowicz is good. Interesting thing will be to see (which I can't, as not watching the actual game) how well Mr Edmund reads the match, whether or not he's able to execute at the level that can win games. Look forward to others' analysis! But so long as it's respectable (aka keeping it "social") I do think this is probably not a bad result, timing-wise. More concerned about over-pressure on him and on his schedule right now than about whether he can actually beat top-30 players ... which there is no reason for him to do yet.

-- Edited by Spectator on Monday 24th of June 2013 01:13:15 PM

Spectator · All-time great

Hmm. Watching Robert v Dutra Silva and Stakhovsky v Falla, kept wishing that one of our lesser-ranked men had got a South American clay courter. Probably best that Mr Edmund didn't - don't want to raise hopes too much in full view of the British press, and a first round win (which I don't think he'll get) might have done so. Would have been nice for Mr Ward, though, especially as he has points to defend.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Is this not on the red button ???!!!!!!