Rusedski To Coach Youngster Edmund

Former British number one, Greg Rusedski, has been announced as the new coach of promising youngster Kyle Edmund.

Edmund is the highest ranked British teenager and having recently broken into the top 300 in the world, has opted to recruit the former world number four as he aims to rise further.

Rusedski has begun his post immediately, travelling with the nineteen year old to a challenger event in Vercelli. Edmund has already won four matches after coming through qualifying before defeating fourth seed Alijaz Bedene 6-3 6-2 in the opening round.

Edmund's appointment replaces his previous coach, Colin Beecher who works for the LTA and had worked with Edmund to earn him a spot on the GB Davis Cup team in February.

But current LTA Chief Executive Michael Downey believes this is the right decision, telling the BBC, "I think this is great that this has happened. No disrespect to Colin Beecher, who did great work, but change sometimes should happen. I think it reflects very highly that not only did Kyle look for a change but that Greg wanted to step up and take on this challenge. Greg has stepped over the line, and said 'give me the keys'."

Edmund is next in action on Thursday in the second round of Vercelli, where he faces the hardened French veteran David Guez for a place in the quarter-finals.

Published on SEaT Capital.

GB Davis Cup Squad Announced

Leon Smith has announced his GB Team to face Italy in Naples on the 4-6 April.

After victory against America in the opening round of the World Cup Group stage, Smith's team take part in the quarter-finals of the highest stage of the Davis Cup for the first time since 1986.

The team chose to travel to Naples are Andy Murray, Dan Evans, James Ward and Colin Fleming, with Ross Hutchins also travelling as the reserve player.

Evans returns to the squad in place of Kyle Edmund after last competing against Croatia in September 2013 whilst Hutchins also rejoins in place of Dominic Inglot after his comeback from Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Captain Leon Smith told the LTA, "We have selected our top three singles players for the squad who between them have the most Davis Cup experience which is what we need for this tie. Obviously we are delighted that Andy is playing, and both Dan and James have enjoyed impressive Davis Cup wins over the last few years."

"We also have strong options in doubles. Andy and Colin have enjoyed success together before, having reached the final in Montreal last August and also winning their last Davis Cup doubles rudder against Croatia in September. Ross Hutchins could be brought into the final four depending on what options we feel are best for the tie. Both Colin and Ross also have a lot of Davis Cup experience between them."
The team will compete on clay courts at the Tennis Club Napoli over the course of next weekend as they seek to defeat Italy and claim a spot in the Davis Cup semi-finals.

Published on SEaT Capital.

Cilic Continues Rankings Rise

Marin Cilic continued his fine run of form with his second title in three weeks as he claimed victory at Delray Beach. The Croat added this victory to his Zagreb title two weeks ago and a runner's up spot in Rotterdam last week to rise four places in the rankings to 25. Cilic will be looking to push back into the top 20 following a disappointing second half of last year.

Elsewhere Ernest Gulbis rose to a career high eighteenth following victory in Marseilles this weekend. Gulbis claimed his fifth ATP title with a 7-6(5) 6-4 victory over local favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who did not move this week.

In fact it was a quiet week at the top of the men's rankings with no movement inside the top ten. Kei Nishikori was a big loser though, dropping five places to twentieth whilst a strong showing from Pablo Andujar reaching the Rio Open semi-final sees him rise six places to 34th. Andy Murray will be wary of Andujar's form after being drawn against him in the opening  round of this week's tournament in Acapulco.

A first round appearance in Marseilles pushed promising young Brit Kyle Edmund into the top 300, whilst it was a quiet week elsewhere for the British boys. The girls also had a quiet week with neither Laura Robson or Heather Watson taking part in any competitions. Nor will they be playing this week as Robson continues to recover from a wrist injury whilst Watson retired in a qualifying match in Brasil.

The women's rankings saw more change at the top than the men. Despite losing in the first round to Ana Ivanovic, Angelique Kerber rose two places to 6th whilst Simona Halep followed her in rising two places to 7th. Petra Kvitova's lack of action meant she dropped from 6th to 9th whilst a quarter-final showing from Jelena Jankovic was not enough as she fell one place to eighth.

The Dubai champion, Venus Williams celebrated a fantastic week with a fifteen place rise to move back inside the top 30 at 29th; only her second WTA title in four years. The other big mover inside the top 100 was the Japanese first seed, Kurumi Nara. Her maiden WTA victory in the Rio Open catapulting her fourteen places to 48th.

Published on SEaT Capital.