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 08:53 · Liam Corless]

Marin Cilic lines up a forehand 

[25 January 2018 08:57 · Liam Corless]

Cilic* 2-2 Edmund

Edmund claims the first point of the game with a big serve-backhand combo but another unforced error on the forehand side sees Cilic level the game at 15-15.

The Brit then produces an unreturnable serve but Cilic dominates the next rally and forces his opponent to dump a running backhand into the net.

Edmund wins the next point courtesy of some wonderful defensive play and he wraps the game up with a huge serve out wide.

[25 January 2018 08:59 · Liam Corless]

Cilic 3-2 *Edmund

Cilic moves 40-0 up in double-quick time courtesy of some big serving and big hitting from the baseline.

The Croat then produces a big ace out wide to seal a love hold.

[25 January 2018 09:00 · Liam Corless]

Kyle Edmund looks on 

[25 January 2018 09:04 · Liam Corless]

Cilic* 4-2 Edmund

Edmund produces an unreturnable serve to start the game but nets back-to-back backhands to lose the next couple of points and fall 15-30 behind

A wayward forehand follows from the Brit as Cilic brings up two break points.

Edmund saves the first one as his opponent sends a forehand long but he can't save the second as he puts a backhand into the tramlines via the top of the net.

[25 January 2018 09:09 · Liam Corless]

Cilic 5-2 *Edmund

Cilic has two game points at 40-15 but Edmund drags the scores back to deuce as Cilic misses the mark with a couple of groundstrokes.

However, the Croat seals the hold courtesy of an unreturnable serve and an unforced backhand error from Edmund.

[25 January 2018 09:10 · Liam Corless]

Kyle Edmund plays a backhand 

[25 January 2018 09:13 · Liam Corless]

Cilic* 6-2 Edmund

A missed forehand down the line at 30-30 from Edmund brings up set point for Cilic... and the Croat takes it with a big cross-court forehand. 

[25 January 2018 09:16 · Liam Corless]

Marin Cilic was flexing his right leg towards the back end of that first set but it's Kyle Edmund who is currently having a medical time-out.

Hopefully the issue isn't too serious - it'd be a huge shame for injury to hinder the Brit in the biggest match of his career.

[25 January 2018 09:17 · Liam Corless]

Marin Cilic is a set to the good against Kyle Edmund