British No 1 also says hopes for Andy Murray should be realistic as he returns from long-term injury
Monday 25 June 2018 13:14, UK
Kyle Edmund says he is aware of the expectations upon him as he prepares for his latest tilt at success at Wimbledon.
The Briton has never got beyond the second round at his home Grand Slam event - which begins next week - but has steadily risen up the world rankings in the past six months and currently lies in 17th position.
A combination of Edmund's improvement and Andy Murray's injury problems have resulted in the 23-year-old establishing himself as Britain's No 1 male player.
Edmund accepts his enhanced status brings enhanced expectations, saying: "I'm aware there's more attention and people talking. I'm just going to do my best, that's all I can do.
"All I've done is try to improve, that's all I know really. Doing something different probably won't work."
Given his relatively poor record at Wimbledon, Edmund accepts he is not the favourite for the title - although he is not ruling himself out.
"The obvious one would be Roger Federer. He did that same thing last year - missed the clay and came to the grass. He will be favourite," said Edmund.
"Alexander Zverev's been really consistent in the clay-court season. I imagine it will be the similar names, but it would be nice if I could be somewhere around there."
Edmund is playing in the Nature Valley International in Eastbourne this week, and the draw has handed him a clash with Andy Murray - provided both players get through their first-round encounters.
He says he is pleased to see his friend return after nearly a year out with injury, but insists hopes at Wimbledon should be realistic after Murray spent so long out of the game.
"He knows what it's like to win a Grand Slam and experience five-set matches, so he will set his expectations realistically," said Edmund.
"As a fan, it will be great to see him back. It's never nice to see someone out with injury, especially someone you know on a personal level.
"He's doing everything he can to play at Wimbledon. It's tough because he is one of the best grass-court players of all time but he's not played many matches. It's probably not fair to set expectations on him."
Edmund was speaking at The Jaguar Championships as part of Jaguar's partnership with David Lloyd Clubs.
Our next tennis action comes from the German Open in Hamburg. Watch the action live on Sky Sports Arena from Monday, July 23 from 10am.
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