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As it happenedended1516877879

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

Liam Corless
Thursday 25 January 2018 11:49 GMT
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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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Cilic 6-2 1-0 *Edmund

Cilic moves 40-0 up in the first game of the second set courtesy of a big inside-out forehand winner, a missed Edmund backhand and an ace down the T.

The big Croat seals a hold to love as Edmund nets a forehand on the run.

Liam Corless25 January 2018 09:22
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Cilic* 6-2 1-1 Edmund

Edmund holds to love with a couple of service winners and some heavy hitting from the baseline.

Liam Corless25 January 2018 09:25
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Cilic 6-2 2-1 *Edmund

A couple of unreturnable serves followed by a wayward cross-court backhand from Edmund bring up two game points for Cilic. 

Edmund saves the first with a huge forehand but he can't save the second as he slices a backhand wide under pressure from his opponent.

Liam Corless25 January 2018 09:29
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Marin Cilic clenches his fist 

Liam Corless25 January 2018 09:30
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Cilic* 6-2 2-2 Edmund

Edmund starts the game with an inside-out forehand winner but back-to-back groundstroke errors see the Brit fall 15-30 behind on serve.

The pair then exchange groundstroke errors as Cilic brings up break point... but Edmund saves it with an ace down the T.

A loose forehand from Cilic sees Edmund bring up game point... and he takes it with an unreturnable serve.

We're all square in this second set.

Liam Corless25 January 2018 09:34
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We've got a short break in play here as Kyle Edmund argues extensively with the umpire - and the tournament referee - over a Hawk-Eye call that goes against him.

Liam Corless25 January 2018 09:37
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Cilic 6-2 3-2 *Edmund

After losing the opening point after some questionable umpiring, Edmund produces a couple of huge groundstroke winners - one off either wing - to move 15-30 ahead on Cilic's serve.

The Croat keeps his cool though and reels off three service winners in a row to seal the hold.

Liam Corless25 January 2018 09:41
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Kyle Edmund hits a forehand on the run 

Liam Corless25 January 2018 09:42
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Cilic* 6-2 3-3 Edmund

Edmund holds to love in double-quick time courtesy of some huge serving and a couple of forehand winners.

Liam Corless25 January 2018 09:44
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Cilic 6-2 4-3 *Edmund

A couple of aces and a netted forehand by Edmund see Cilic move 40-0 up on serve... and the No 6 seed seals a hold to love with another big serve that the Brit can only return into the tramlines.

Liam Corless25 January 2018 09:47

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