Kyle Edmund's fairytale Australian Open run over after straight sets defeat to Marin Cilic

The 23-year-old Brit had become the story of the tournament after a fairytale run to the last four, but saw his streak ended in emphatic fashion at the hands of the Croat

Kyle Edmund's fairytale run in Melbourne is over (Getty)

The last fortnight has been the best of Kyle Edmund’s career, but his last match at the 2018 Australian Open is unlikely to be among his favourite memories. While there was no shame in losing 6-2, 7-6, 6-2 to Marin Cilic, last year’s Wimbledon runner-up and a former US Open champion, the manner of his defeat here on Thursday is always likely to leave Edmund with a sense of what might have been.

Edmund did not want to go into any details afterwards about the injury for which he had taken a medical time-out at the end of the first set, but it was understood to be a hip problem. By the end of the match it was clear that it was affecting his movement.Against some players you might get away with being below peak fitness, but Cilic is not one of them. The world No 6 is a formidable ball-striker and it was to Edmund’s credit that he was still in the contest going into the tie-break at the end of the second set. For much of the match, however, he struggled to cope with the sheer weight and consistency of the 29-year-old’s ground strokes.

While Cilic regularly threatened Edmund’s serve, the only two break points which the Briton created in the match – both of which he failed to convert – came in the opening game.

This tournament has provided a succession of new experiences for Edmund and this was another: his first appearance in a night session in Rod Laver Arena. On a warm summer’s evening the underdog had the majority of the support in Melbourne Park’s main stadium.

Edmund, who was attempting to join Andy Murray as the only British man to reach the final here since John Lloyd in 1977, had lost his only previous encounter with Cilic in Shanghai three months ago, but has made plenty of progress since then under his new coach, Fredrik Rosengren.

The Briton’s serve has been remodelled and he has improved his returns, but the greatest improvement has been in his mind. Having lost a number of matches in deciding sets last year, he has reversed that trend in the opening weeks of 2017.

Edmund had shown few nerves on his debut on this court two days earlier, when he had beaten Dimitrov, and once again he was quickly into his stride. Hitting some big ground strokes, he forced two break points in the opening game which Cilic successfully defended with service winners.

Edmund had battled all the way to the final four in Melbourne (Getty)

From 2-2, however, Cilic took command. The world No 6 broke to lead 4-2 when Edmund missed a backhand and broke again to take the first set, converting his first set point with a typically bold forehand.

During the changeover at the end of the first set Edmund left the court with a trainer to take his medical time-out, but did not appear to be in any physical difficulty at the start of the second set.

At 2-2 the normally quietly-spoken Briton became involved in a heated exchange with the Australian umpire, John Blom, protesting, to no avail, that an incorrect “out” call had affected his shot. “The call came as I was hitting the ball,” Edmund said, before demanding: “Get the referee. I’m not having it.”

Cilic proved too good for the Brit on the day (Getty)

A lengthy discussion with Andreas Egli failed to get the decision reversed but at least the incident appeared to put additional fire in Edmund’s belly as he struck the ball with particular venom in winning the next two points.

Edmund saved the only break point of the second set in the third game with a service winner. The tie-break at the end of the set was tight, but at 3-3 Cilic secured the first mini-break when Edmund, struggling to keep pace with the Croat, netted a forehand. When Edmund served at 4-6 he saved one set point but on the next Cilic powered a backhand winner down the line.

Edmund gave his all but it wasn't enough (Getty)

The Briton’s physical difficulties became more apparent at the start of the third set as he had trouble continuing to chase down shots. Having gone 15-40 behind in the third game, he put a lame backhand into the net to give Cilic the break.

Edmund forced three deuces in the following game but Cilic held firm, as indeed he did on every occasion when the Briton made any inroads into his service games.

Edmund's tournament is over after a magical run (Getty)

At 4-2 Edmund was broken for the fourth and last time, giving Cilic the chance to serve out for victory. A simple volley took the 29-year-old Croatian to match point and a service winner did the rest as Edmund’s challenge came to an end after two hours and 18 minutes.

Edmund’s disappointment at the end was evident, but at 23 the Briton has much to look forward to. He will be hoping that this is just the beginning.