Dimitrov dumped by Edmund

Second quarter final of Day Nine on RLA was that between Grigor Dimitrov (3) and Kyle Edmund.

Dimitrov was coming off a huge match between himself and Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round and Edmund had played some of his best tennis ro defeat Andreas Seppi in rhe round of sixteen, but his top scalp had been Kevin Anderson (11) in round one.

Edmund broke the Dimitrov serve in the opening game, using the second break point and shocking everyone but perhaps himself and his mum.

Then he held to love, an ace and forced errors doing the trick. 

2-0 to the UK.

Dimitrov held serve, his backhand back on track with a couple of winners.

The Edmund forehand was causing Dimitrov some grief as it was the catalyst for another service hold, and Edmund led 3-1.

From 3-2 and 40-30, Edmund served a double fault and threw in two loose ground strokes to lose serve and it was 3-3.

At 4-4, Dimitrov was facing two break points - on the second Edmund hit a winner to bring him to 5-4 and serving for the set.

Saving three break points the UK hero ultimately won the game and set 6-4.

Dimitrov opened with a love game on serve in set two, then at 30-30 Edmund hit two loose shots to surrender his serve and trail 0-2. 

Dimitrov was trailing 0-40 but won the remaining points in the game to hold with a winning forehand to lead 3-0.

Edmund saved two break points in a four deuce game to register on the scoreboard, while Dimitrov was quicker in making it 4-1.

A double fault had Dimitrov facing break point in the seventh game but he managed a path through that mess and held for 5-2.

Soon he served for the set at 5-3 and that proved no problem.

Now it was a set apiece.

Edmund held serve in the opening game of set three, saving a break point, and Dimitrov equalised.

The UK player hit a couple of aces in his next service games and 2-2 arrived with Dimitrov’s hold, a break point saved on the way.

3-3 after a Dimitrov love game.

4-3 Edmund following a love game of his own, and then a break of the third seed for 5-3.

Serving for the third set, Edmund brought up set point with a forehand winner, and clinched it forcing a Dimitrov backhand error.

Edmund was the unlikely leader in this match 6-4 3-6 6-3.

At 30-15 in the fifth game of the fourth set, Dimitrov committed three successive unforced errors and lost serve - 3-2 Edmund.

Dimitrov broke straight back, then held for 4-3, saving a break point.

Edmund levelled at 4-4 then broke, and served for the match at 5-4.

An Edmund ace presented the first match point and a Dimitrov error ended the contest.

6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4.

Kyle Edmund is the first person through to the semi finals and will play the winner of Rafa Nadal (1) and Marin Cilic (6).

Edmund had a previous career high ranking of 40. Now his live ranking is 26.

If the unbelievable were to happen, and he made the final here, his ranking would rocket to 19 and he would be the UK number one ahead of Andy Murray (20).

Of course that will happen anyway in due course as Murray undergoes rehabilitation from his recent operation.