Andy Murray beats British rival Kyle Edmund to reach Citi Open last-16 to continue positive return from injury

Two-time Wimbledon champion feels his body is holding up well to the demands of the hard-court season after gaining revenge for his defeat by Edmund in June

Andy Murray booked his place in the last-16 at the Citi Open in Washington - prevailing in the Battle of the Brits against Kyle Edmund 7-6 (7/4), 1-6, 6-4.

Sir Andy, who has slipped down to number 832 in the world rankings as he continues his comeback from hip surgery, took on the man who replaced him as British number one in March.

The two-time Wimbledon champion took the first set on a tiebreak after both players held their first five service games before exchanging breaks.

Level at 4-4 in the tie-break, Murray won the final three points against Edmund, who beat him in straight sets at Eastbourne earlier this summer.

The second set was wrapped up in 35 minutes, with Edmund winning 83% of his first serve points, breaking Murray twice for a 5-1 lead and finally tying things level on his sixth set point to force a decider.

As with the first set, the third saw both players hold their service games through to 5-4 in favour of Murray and the 31-year-old booked his place in the third round on the first break - and match - point after two hours and 34 minutes.

Murray celebrates his victory over Edmund at the Citi Open (Getty) (Getty Images)

He will go on to face Romanian Marius Copil.

Murray, who has added the China Open to his schedule in October, said his body was being put through the wringer at the hard-court tournament.

"I feel better than I did during the grass-court season, which is positive," said Murray, who played three matches in late June but withdrew from Wimbledon as it came too early in his recovery process.

"So things are still getting better and I've lasted fairly well through two long matches here on a tough surface on the body.

"Hopefully I can keep healing up from the matches and feeling better."

Top seed Alexander Zverev won 82 per cent of his first serves in his rain-interrupted match that started on Tuesday against Malek Jaziri en route to a 6-2, 6-1 win over the Tunisian.

Third seed David Goffin survived a scare from France's Pierre-Hugues Herbert but hung on for a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6(5) win while Japan's Kei Nishikori sent Donald Young packing for the second year in a row, beating the American 6-3, 6-4.

(Getty Images)

Earlier on Wednesday, Nick Kyrgios withdrew from the tournament with a hip injury, another setback in the Australian's build-up to the US Open.

Kyrgios had hurt his hip a week earlier in Atlanta, and the fifth seed made the trip to Washington hoping to be fit, only to pull out of his opening match against compatriot James Duckworth. The world number 17 is scheduled to play tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati before the US Open, which begins on 27 August.

Also in the second round, Denis Shapovalov fired his 15th ace on match point to complete a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Russia's Daniil Medvedev.

Medvedev led 4-1 in the third set but 19-year-old Canadian Shapovalov was able to turn it around behind his booming left-handed serve and punishing ground strokes.

Jared Donaldson had to halt the third set of his match against Stefanos Tsitsipas to receive treatment on his right hip and, after failing to convert two match points, fell 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to the Greek.

Jason Kubler was awarded Kyrgios's spot in the draw but the lucky loser was unable to take advantage, falling 1-6, 6-2, 7-6(5) to Duckworth.

Americans Frances Tiafoe and Denis Kudla cruised to straight sets wins over Poland's Hubert Hurkacz (6-2, 6-4) and Russian 12th seed Karen Khachanov (6-2, 6-3) while French 14th seed Jeremy Chardy fell 6-4, 6-4 to 93rd ranked Romanian Copil.

The summer rain storms that have plagued the tournament all week returned on Wednesday, pushing the second-round match between second seed John Isner and fellow American Noah Rubin to Thursday and forcing several other matches to be suspended.

PA and Reuters