US Open 2019: British number one Kyle Edmund out in first round for second year running

The 24-year-old could not join compatriots Johanna Konta and Dan Evans in round two after a dispiriting five-set defeat on unlucky Court 13

Kyle Edmund is out of the US Open (Getty)

British number one Kyle Edmund’s US Open campaign was ended in the first round for the second year running.

The 24-year-old could not join compatriots Johanna Konta and Dan Evans in round two after a dispiriting five-set defeat on unlucky Court 13.

Last year Italian Paolo Lorenzi was the beneficiary of Edmund’s below-par display. Fast forward 12 months and Pablo Andujar, a 33-year-old Spaniard, outlasted the 30th seed.

A close match featuring 13 breaks of serve – seven for Andujar – swung in a marathon fifth game in the deciding set.

Edmund was unable to get over the line on his own serve, and did not win another game in a 3-6 7-6 (1) 7-5 5-7 6-2 defeat.

Kyle Edmund has crashed out (Getty)

Earlier, Edmund had recovered from dropping his opening service game to take the first set with relatively little drama, and looked on course for a routine win when a break up in the second.

The clubbing Edmund forehand was cranking up to speed and Andujar was struggling to stay with him.

But suddenly a sloppy service game saw Edmund 0-40 down and Andujar, ranked 70 in the world, took advantage before running away with the tie-break.

Andujar has struggled with injuries for much of his career but he was suddenly looking the sprightlier as the rallies progressed.

He nicked a tight third set, Edmund responded in kind in the fourth, but he came up short in the decider as Andujar celebrated a first Flushing Meadows win since 2014.