As one British number one gears up for the US Open in Jack Draper, another former British number one has announced his retirement from the sport.
It’s never nice to see a star bring an end to their career, but it also offers an opportunity to celebrate their best moments over the last decade and beyond.
And, with this player in question, he has had many standout moments.
With a highest world ranking of 14th, and two ATP career titles to his name helping him amass over $6m in prize money, his career that cannot be described as anything but a success.
Therefore, it’s worth paying tribute to Kyle Edmund as he retires from tennis.
Kyle Edmund retires from tennis
In a press release sent out by the LTA, they naturally have eulogised some of the 30-year-old’s greatest achievements across a long career.
Chief among those accolades has to be his impressive win over Novak Djokovic as recently as 2018, as well as being only the second Brit after Sir Andy Murray since 1978 to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open.
Looking back on these, among many other successes, Edmund continued: “Of course, there are certain moments that stick out, whether it was winning the junior Davis Cup in 2011, the junior Grand Slam doubles victories, and making my Davis Cup debut when we won the final in 2015.
“I look back at that very fondly now, and the runs to the semi-finals in 2016 and 19, it was always an immense privilege to represent my country, including being an Olympian. The Australian Open semi-final and my two ATP Tour victories in Antwerp and at the New York Open were also very special.”
He would then reveal the chief reason behind his decision: “The last five years have taken a toll with three surgeries and other injuries such as wrist, ab, hip and foot in trying to get better, my body is telling me its finally reached the end point.
“Looking back I can say I tried my absolute best in my career and my hardest to get back to where I was. There are no regrets whatsoever. I have always been quite a determined person and I have no doubt I’ll apply those principles that I learned in my tennis career to whatever I do next and something I’m very excited about.”
Ironically, this comes many years after Edmund spoke about Andy Murray’s potential retirement, which eventually came just last year.
What was Kyle Edmund’s record at Grand Slams?
A career stunted by injuries, Edmund did still rack up a rather impressive resume, including a handful of admirable runs at the majors.
However, his crowning moment came in that aforementioned 2018 run in Melbourne, thwarted only by Marin Cilic in the semi-finals.
Aside from that, he reached a further two third-rounds in Paris, one fourth round in New York, and at Wimbledon, he failed to progress beyond the second round more than once.
However, he did win the Davis Cup with Great Britain as well, further emphasising what a solid legacy he will leave behind.
