Goran Ivanisevic tips Kyle Edmund as one for the future ahead of Australian Open showdown with Grigor Dimitrov

The former Wimbledon champion believes Edmund can break into the world's top 20 by the end of 2018

Kyle Edmund has reached the quarter-final of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career (Getty)

Goran Ivanisevic believes Kyle Edmund is one of the players who are “the future of tennis”, but despite his admiration for the 23-year-old Briton he thinks Grigor Dimitrov will be too good for him on Tuesday in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

Ivanisevic, who expects Edmund to have broken into the world’s top 20 by the end of 2018, thinks that Dimitrov is “definitely one of the guys who can win a Grand Slam this year”.

Dimitrov had long been regarded as one of the best emerging players in the game, but at 26 years old the Bulgarian now has plenty of younger players breathing down his neck, including Edmund. However, Ivanisevic has been impressed by the progress Dimitrov has made since appointing Dani Vallverdu as a coach at the end of 2016.

“Although he was always aggressive I sometimes thought that he played the point for the crowd, not for himself,” the 2001 Wimbledon champion said. “Now I think he is more calm.

“His backhand has improved a lot. He is not missing backhands as much as he used to. The backhand has become a weapon. His forehand is much better. I think his second serve should improve. Sometimes he is just out of balance. But the way he is moving - wow, he is one of the best athletes there.

“I see him in the semi-finals, I don't know against who, but he’s going to be dangerous to beat.”

In the semi-finals the winner between Dimitrov and Edmund will face either Rafael Nadal, the world No 1, or Croatia’s Marin Cilic, who meet in Tuesday’s evening session.

Grigor Dimitrov beat Nick Kyrgios to set up a quarter-final against Edmund (Getty)

Ivanisevic was impressed by the way Dimitrov beat Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round on Sunday evening. “He lifted his game, because I had been very impressed with Nick,” Ivanisevic said. “Grigor improved a lot last year, working with Dani, winning the ATP Finals and he is going to be dangerous.”

Dimitrov has been in two semi-finals before at Grand Slam tournaments. He lost to Rafael Nadal in a five-set thriller here last year and to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2014.

“A Slam is tough,” Ivanisevic said. “Last year we saw Rafa and Roger split four Slams. Dimitrov is one of the guys who can step up. So can Kyrgios if he keeps his head like he did here. I don't see a lot of guys who can do that but Dimitrov is definitely one of the guys who can win a Grand Slam this year.”

What has Ivanisevic made of Edmund’s progress? “He’s made great improvement in the past two years,” the former world No 2 said. “He gets better and better every year. He’s not afraid to hit the ball. He is young and he’s great for British tennis.”


 Ivanisevic has been impressed by Dimitrov's progress over the past 12 months 
 (Getty)

Ivanisevic thinks Edmund can build on the improvements he has made in his mental approach over the last two years.

“He’s still young and these are things that make you better,” he said. “When you start to win these close matches, when you start to close them out, then you are going to become a better player, you are going to improve your ranking.

“I think at the end of the year he will be ranked between No 10 and No 20 in the world. Edmund is one of the players who is the future of tennis.”

Ivanisevic has tipped Edmund as one for the future (Getty)

What about Dimitrov’s assessment of Edmund? “For sure I need to be ready,” the Bulgarian said. “Simple as that. There is no place for under-estimation or anything like that. You have just got to go out there and play your tennis.

“The only thing I have been focusing on since day one out here on the court is really looking after my side of the game and my side of the net. This is what I want to progress. I want to be better. And it doesn't matter who I play. I just want to do better.”

Dimitrov claimed his first tour title in Stockholm five years ago, but after winning three more in 2014, including the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club in London, the Bulgarian’s progress stalled.

Having broken into the world’s top 20 for the first time at the start of 2014, he fell out of it a year later and was as low as No 40 in the summer of 2016. However, the appointment of Vallverdu, who was a long-time member of Andy Murray’s coaching team, has helped to turn his fortunes around.

Last year Dimitrov won his first Masters Series title in Cincinnati in the summer and ended his campaign in spectacular style by winning the ATP Finals in London.

His form at the start of this year had been patchy, but the victory over Kyrgios demonstrated his maturity. “In a long tournament, it's important, after certain rounds, to reassess your game a little bit,” Dimitrov said. “You reassess your behaviour and find a way to do something better, to change something in order for you to be better. It’s as simple as that.

“I just told myself [before the Kyrgios match]: ‘OK, you’ve gone that far. Now is the part you need to start enjoying a little bit more and live in the moment. You never know how many times you're going to be able to come out on Rod Laver Arena and just play.’ That itself gives me the motivation and that kind of kick: ‘Hey, man, you're here now. Just play’.”