Across the first four games of the fourth set, both men sedulously held into their serves. Dimitrov dropped only one point in two service games while Edmund conceded only two points. It was 2-2. But Edmund persistently made his returns in the fifth game. Picking away purposefully, he broke at 30 for a 3-2 lead. Edmund clearly was too acutely aware of the score. In the sixth game, he erred four times off the ground. A resolute Dimitrov broke back at 15 for 3-3, probing patiently until he could draw the mistakes from his opponent.
Now Dimitrov was competing with renewed vigor and authority. He saved a break point when Edmund missed a forehand return off a first serve. Dimitrov closed that game with an ace down the T to establish a 4-3 lead. As was the case in the first set, he had come from a break down into more positive territory.
Edmund served precariously at 3-4, 30-30. At that moment, a fifth set seemed very possible. Edmund, however, wanted no part of that scenario. His mission was to close the account in four sets, to stay away from the theater of a fifth set. At 30-30, Edmund profited from a forehand unforced error from Dimitrov. He then released an excellent second serve that was too much for Dimitrov. Edmund had the essential hold for 4-4.
The pressure had shifted back to the man on the other side of the net. Edmund opened the ninth game with a sparkling forehand down the line passing shot. He advanced to 15-40, but Dimitrov saved a break point there with a fine first serve to the backhand. At 30-40, Dimitrov lost his serve, missing a routine shot off the backhand.
And so Kyle Edmund was serving for the match, knowing precisely what was at stake, realizing he was on the edge of an accomplishment he would not have envisioned two weeks earlier. At 15-15, he double faulted, but he arrived at 30-30 after a shaky forehand from Dimitrov. Given that reprieve, Edmund pounced. He served an ace down the T for 40-30. With Edmund at match point, Dimitrov sliced a backhand that was called long, but Edmund could not immediately rejoice. Dimitrov challenged the call. Edmund stood there waiting for what must have seemed like an eternity, but the Hawkeye replay confirmed the call. Game, set, match, Edmund.
Edmund will be one of two unseeded semifinalists among the men this year, joining either Tennnys Sandgren or Hyeon Chung in the penultimate round. It is a worthy honor for an ascendant player who has authentically come of age.
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