Kyle Edmund

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Kyle Edmund

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Thanks for posting it.

Priesty · Challenger level

Interesting that he's starting the year by going for the big ones in Doha and Australia. I hope that for now though there'll still be a sensible mix of challengers in there as I do feel that's what's needed.

indiana · Tennis legend

Fair enough, give it a go leading into Aussie Open qualifying.

But thereafter I do hope there is a sensible consistent development strategy going forward. I accept that folk effectively agreed to disagree last year, but many folk who commented on the forum last year were far from convinced about the general approach to the first half of last year with its real mix of levels.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Indi what would be your perfect schedule then.? My impression is you would have been very conservative last year which may have led to more points earlier but would have hampered his global development.

I think on reflection most folk would accept that the final outcome top 200 as a teenager with exposure to all levels of tennis ATP 250, 500, 1000, and GS was more than acceptable. Early ITF dominance led on to Davis cup and ATP tour exposure with the summer and autumn establishing a challenger presence. The guy has now played high level mens tennis on almost every continent and now knows how to get round the tour. Looked like a sensible consistent development strategy to me... With the emphasis on development.

Admittedly there were coaching issues and I feel Kyle will benefit greatly from a more settled and consistent set up, the schedule really challenged him and he now knows where he has to improve to be competitive at every level.

EddietheEagle · County player

Three weeks of training in Florida - with Andy Murray presumably, now that Greg the Wedge is off the scene. That should nudge things along nicely.

indiana · Tennis legend

Oakland, re Kyle's first half schedule I would have liked to see more challengers ( he didn't play a single one till April ), qualifying if necessary ( still decent experience ) plus some 15K futures. That initial period, particularly after his early successful USA 10K futures leading into the USA Davis Cup tie, just seemed a bit messy and for a few months had him playing not very many matches.

It went with a few gap weeks : India ATP 250 WC, USA F 10K, USA F 10K, Davis Cup reserve, Croatia F 15K, France ATP 250 WC, USA F 15K, Miami ATP Masters WC, Davis Cup hitting partner, Turkey challenger ( hurrah ! ), Italy Challenger, GB F10K, Germany Challenger, before the GB grass WC Challenger, Challenger, ATP 250, Wimbledon series.

I am not sure that I'd say that a more challenger / 15K approach would have been much more conservative, rather more planned and involve more matches ( and at the right level ) than the more back and forward often ATP WC / futures mix. That to me would have looked like good, planned development compared to his very much more varied tournament / level of opponent sequence.

Post Wimbledon, he concentrated very much on Challengers with initially varied success, but the right level and other than the surprise decision to skip USA Open qualifying seemed much more sensible. It, of course, ended with quite a bit of success and Kyle into the top 200.

However the year ended though ( and it was great to see ), I still do not think that was a sensible or helpful first half of the year schedule. It built up well though over the second half of the year with it not too surprisingly including a few early Challenger disappointments but good experience. As I suggested before, we just continue to disagree.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Thanks Indi, I think it was the Davis Cup call ups and his early exit in Bakersfield that made the spring look a bit barren, he was never going to go deep in Miami but I think he needed to see Davis cup upfront as he is likely to be a long term stalwart.

Now he is top 200 I think his ranking will facilitate a less contrived and sporadic schedule around GS qualifying ( top challenger equivalent but less points) but wouldn't be at all surprised to see a number of early round ATP 250/500 losses as opposed to entering challengers that look like easier points.

Wardy had a really well planned opportunistic schedule designed to optimise his points scoring and that was obviously exactly what he needs. I see Kyle's needs are different and he will require a patient fan base for the next 18 months or so

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Kyle has fired Trotman :

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/daviscup/11946549/Kyle-Edmund-axes-coach-before-Britains-Davis-Cup-final.html

indiana · Tennis legend

So on the face of it, Kyle's recent relative travails are not down to injury or illness, but more disillusionment / disagreement / confusion with how his coaching relationship was going.

Still concerning that on court there seemed such a real lack of fire. A coach may have responsibility for prep and tactics, but quite how it's so bad that he causes you to look lethargic compared to how you have earlier been ? hmm. Unless overtrained ?

Interesting in general re Kyle's coaching situation A relative young man funded and supported by the LTA, but apparently that's two coaches he himself has "fired".

I wonder how and why Rusedski and Trotman were chosen first of all and in discussion with whom. And how will the next coach be chosen ?

Hope it works out for the best and a big talent gets back on course asap.

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 21st of October 2015 10:55:14 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

One of the questions I have is: if a player is fully funded by the LTA then, normally, or previously, he/she can't fire their coach. It's the LTA that apppoints them, changes them (maybe with consultation etc. but...)

So is Kyle striking out on his own ? Or partially? Did the LTA agree beforehand ? Leon ??? .....

Oakland2002 · All-time great

In the context of what is important for Kyle and the DC an intensive period of competition on clay under Leon's tutelage seems a sensible next step. Then I presume he will be into a period of conditioning so if a change is needed or due the timing strikes me as being pretty good.

We have no idea as to the contractual arrangements as regards his coaching set up and Kyle now needs a performance coach with intimate understanding of how to break the top 50 and beyond.

Jaffa · Challenger level

Personally, no disrespect to James but I felt he'd taken him as far as he was going to. A good time to do it really.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Jaffa wrote:
Personally, no disrespect to James but I felt he'd taken him as far as he was going to. A good time to do it really.

Yes.

As an aside, I know James had major injury problems but he certainly gave adult tennis a go, having been a top star youngster. And it's always seemed slightly strange to me that the UK has such trouble with 'transitioning' youngsters, and then prioritises coaches who themselves never managed to 'transition' properly. (I definitely don't think you have to be a top tennis player to be a top coach, but it does seem rather weird). I realise that's all they've got but it risks being a vicious circle.

Good luck with Leon, Kyle.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

The more I look at it the more I like the fact that Kyle is back on clay, it is likely his best surface and probably the one on which he is most likely to make a GS breakthrough and the conventional main tour, Europe, N America, Australia doesn't really offer that much opportunity, so although there is a specific DC reason for going its not a bad move all round.