Edmund stops Murray in Eastbourne

Former world No.1 Andy Murray tumbled out of the Eastbourne International after a 6-4 6-4 loss to British compatriot Kyle Edmund on Wednesday.

Edmund’s rise to 18th in the rankings has coincided with Murray’s year out with a hip injury which has seen him drop to 156th in the world.

The 23-year-old Edmund admitted that it had been a “weird” feeling taking on his Davis Cup teammate and the man who had mentored him in his early days on the ATP Tour.

Murray, playing only his third match back as he tries to prove his fitness for Wimbledon, made things awkward and fought tenaciously but had no answer to the ferocious forehand of Edmund, who became the first British player to beat Murray for 12 years.

Murray lost to Nick Kyrgios in his comeback match at Queen’s Club last week.

“It was a bit of a tough match, mentally, playing Andy but I had to try to view it as another match,” said Edmund, the No.2 seed, who will play Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin next.

“I’ve looked up to Andy so much and he’s looked after me and really been good for me so it’s a bit of a weird feeling. I was a bit nervous towards the end.”

Also winning through to the quarterfinals on Wednesday were third seed Denis Shapovalov and No.4 seed Marco Cecchinato.