Kyle Edmund vs Marin Cilic LIVE: British No 2 suffers defeat to end brilliant run at semi-finals

Follow the latest from the Australian Open semi-finals

Kyle Edmund: Who is Britain's new tennis star?

Kyle Edmund will attempt to reach his first ever Grand Slam final – and become the new British No 1 in the process – when he meets Marin Cilic in Melbourne on Thursday morning with a place in the Australian Open final on the line.

The 23-year-old beat world No 3 Grigor Dimitrov to reach the last four Down Under, having already reached a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time in his career, and if Edmund can find a way to battle past Cilic and book his place in the final to face either Roger Federer or Hyeon Chung or Roger Federer, he will overtake Andy Murray in the world rankings.

But Cilic will be no walkover, having won the US Open in 2012 and reaching last year’s Wimbledon final, and the world No 6 has five years’ worth of experience more than Edmund that could prove crucial as the Briton ventures into unknown territory.

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Key Points

• Marin Cilic beats Kyle Edmund 6-2, 7-6, 6-2 to reach Australian Open final
• Cilic will face either Roger Federer or Hyeon Chung
• Women's final to see Caroline Wozniacki face Simona Halep

[25 January 2018 07:56 · Jack de Menezes]

Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Australian Open semi-final as Britain's Kyle Edmund attempts to reach his first ever Grand Slam final when he takes on Marin Cilic at the Australian Open.

[25 January 2018 08:22 · Liam Corless]

What has Marin Cilic had to say about Kyle Edmund?

"For me, I'll prepare for the match like any other one. Kyle has had an amazing run here and played great tennis. He's very entertaining to watch. A big hitter, great serve, great forehand and he plays well on a hard court.

"On paper it's probably easier to play him than Rafa but he deserves to be here."

[25 January 2018 08:30 · Liam Corless]

The players are out on the court for the warm-up and we should be underway in around 10 minutes' time!

[25 January 2018 08:31 · Liam Corless]

[25 January 2018 08:36 · Liam Corless]

Edmund: It's a great opportunity for me

Here's what Kyle Edmund has been saying in the media in the build-up to today's huge semi-final encounter:

"There's no reason why I can't go out there and put a good level on the court, enjoy the occasion again.

"A semis of a Grand Slam, it's a great feeling. I'll just try to take it in my stride as best as I can.

"It will be a great opportunity for me. I guess I have that little bit of a taste of being on court with him.

"The place I'm in now is really good so I think, what I've been doing, I'll just try and carry on with that."

[25 January 2018 08:37 · Liam Corless]

Marin Cilic will get us underway this one. Let's go.

[25 January 2018 08:44 · Liam Corless]

Cilic 1-0 *Edmund

Edmund starts impressively as he takes the opening point against serve with a deft drop shot.

Cilic levels the game at 15-15 with a big inside-out forehand but he dumps a couple of forehands into the net on the next two points to go 15-40 down.

However, the big Croat produces a couple of huge serves to drag the game back to deuce.

After a second deuce Cilic manages to hold courtesy of a couple of heavy forehands.

[25 January 2018 08:45 · Liam Corless]

Kyle Edmund returns the ball 

[25 January 2018 08:48 · Liam Corless]

Cilic* 1-1 Edmund

Edmund double faults to lose the first point of his opening service game but he quickly moves 30-15 up as Cilic misses the mark with a couple of backhands.

The Brit produces a backhand error of his own to lose the next point but back-to-back unreturnable serves seal the hold.

[25 January 2018 08:51 · Liam Corless]

Cilic 2-1 *Edmund

Cilic produces a couple of unreturnable serves to move 30-0 up before Edmund comes up with the shot of the match so far - a sumptuous backhand winner up the line. 

A unforced forehand error follows from the Brit before Cilic wraps up the game with another big serve.