US Open: Kyle Edmund defeats John Isner to set up US Open clash with Novak Djokovic

The Briton booked himself a spot in the fourth round after beating Isner 6-4 3-6 6-2 7-6 (7/5)

This is the first time Edmund has reached the last 16 at the US Open (Getty)

Another day at the US Open, another man mountain toppled by a fast-improving Briton. Twenty-four hours after Dan Evans knocked out 6ft 6in Alexander Zverev to reach the third round at Flushing Meadows, Kyle Edmund went one better by beating 6ft 10in John Isner 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 to earn a fourth-round meeting here with Novak Djokovic, the world No 1 and defending champion.

Edmund, who had never previously played in the main draw here or gone beyond the second round of any Grand Slam tournament, followed up his victories over Richard Gasquet and Ernesto Escobedo with an admirably composed victory over a man with one of the most feared serves in the game.

Isner, who had the support of his home crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium, was frequently outhit and outplayed as 21-year-old Edmund followed the example of 26-year-old Evans by mixing calm authority with bristling aggression.

Going into Wimbledon last summer, Evans was ranked No 763 in the world and Edmund No 101. Currently No 64 and No 84 respectively, they are projected to climb to No 52 and No 54 on the strength of their latest victories.

Although further progress may be unlikely - while Edmund faces Djokovic tomorrow [Sunday] Evans meets Stan Wawrinka in the third round tonight [Saturday] – the experience here will have done wonders for their confidence, not to mention their bank balances. So far Edmund has earned $235,000 (about £177,000) and Evans $140,000 (about £105,000).

With Andy Murray also through to the third round, in which he faces Paolo Lorenzi today [Saturday], Britain’s men have already enjoyed their best run in this tournament since 1968, which was the last time three Britons made the last 32.

“I think our success rubs off on each other,” Edmund said after his latest victory, pointing out that Johanna Konta had also reached the fourth round. “It’s great seeing other people do well. It has that positive vibe. It’s the same in Davis Cup. We all watch each other and want each other to win and do well. I think that just carries over into the events.”

Isner must wonder what it is about the British. The 31-year-old American has never beaten Murray in their six meetings, while his defeat to James Ward in Glasgow last year was the turning point in Britain’s Davis Cup victory over the United States.

The world No 21 had won his only previous meeting with Edmund at the French Open three months ago on clay, a surface which might have favoured the Briton more than the American. The quick hard courts here should have been to Isner’s advantage, but while the home player hit some huge serves at speeds of up to 137mph Edmund also demonstrated his firepower, with his fastest serve timed at 130mph.

Isner hit more aces – 27 to his opponent’s 14 – but Edmund won 81 per cent of his first-serve points, which was one per cent more than the American. An equally telling statistic was the unforced error count, with Edmund making 24 to Isner’s 43.

Kyle Edmund in action against Isner (Getty)

Edmund, who has clearly benefited from the confidence he gained from the key role he played in Britain’s Davis Cup quarter-final victory in Serbia in July, looked assured from the start.

He broke to love in the fifth game and served out for the opening set before Isner made the only break of the second set in the second game. When Edmund went 0-40 down on his serve in the opening game of the third it seemed that the momentum might have shifted decisively, but the Briton hung on, went 2-0 up and broke again when Isner served to stay in the set.

In the fourth set Edmund went within two points of victory when Isner served at 4-5, but the American forced a tie-break. From 3-6 down Isner saved two match points, but Edmund kept a cool head on his third opportunity and struck a big forehand winner into a corner.

Edmund said he had learned from his defeat to Isner at Roland Garros. “I feel good about myself at the minute,” he said. “I knew going into the match I had a good chance, but that it would be a very different match to my last two.

“You’ve got to be able to play well against all different styles of players. That’s important. Today it was obviously about taking the chances when I had them, because they weren’t going to come frequently. I think in my last match I had 16 break points. I knew I wasn’t going to get that today. I had to be sharper when they came.”

Edmund has met Djokovic once before, in the second round of this year’s Miami Masters, and was far from disgraced in a 6-3, 6-3 defeat.

“I feel I had some good success in that match,” Edmund said. “In the middle of the match I started taking it to him a bit more. That’s my game. That’s what I’ve been doing this tournament. I need to continue to do that. My game is about trying to be aggressive. It’s going to be no different when I play him on Sunday. That’s what’s been working. No point in changing it.”


 Isner had the backing of the home crowd but it wasn't enough to stop Edmund 
 (Getty)

Djokovic, who congratulated Edmund on his Davis Cup performances against Serbia when they met on the practice courts at the Rio Olympics, has played only six games since his first-round victory here. Jiri Vesely pulled out of their second-round meeting because of injury and Mikhail Youzhny retired with a hamstring injury when trailing 4-2 in the third round.

Sunday’s schedule will not be announced until tonight, but there is every likelihood that Edmund will make his debut in the cavernous 24,000-capacity Arthur Ashe Stadium. He said he was glad to have had the opportunity to practise on the court with Murray last weekend.

“It’s great to play on all these different courts around the world,” Edmund said. “I’m getting more exposure on the tour now. It will be very exciting.”

He added: “I definitely don’t have anything to lose in this one. I’ll just go out there and do my best.”