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By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, May 9, 2018

 
Novak Djokovic

Kyle Edmund surprised Novak Djokovic, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, reaching the third round of a Masters for the first time in Madrid where he will meet David Goffin next.

Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open

Declining results and diminished confidence conspire to make Novak Djokovic feel his mind is playing tricks on him.

Today, Kyle Edmund conjured a third-set charge to make Djokovic disappear from Madrid's Magic Box.

Djokovic: Mind Games Matter

Edmund converted four of five break points surprising Djokovic 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, for his first win in four meetings with the former world No. 1.

"It was a great experience to beat Novak, he is a legend of the game," Edmund told Sky Sports afterward. "It's time to try and beat these guys and I was pleased how I managed my game."

The 23-year-old Briton bombed 30 winners compared to 11 for the 30-time Masters champion whose last Masters 1000 title came at the 2016 Rogers Cup.




Questions continue to swirl around Djokovic, who dropped to 6-6 on the season.

Patience and precision were lacking from the 12-time Grand Slam champion's game in the opening set, he stamped his authority on the second set, but played some erratic points gifting the lone break in the eighth game of the final set.  

An unerring ball-control attack and oppressive defense were once the cornerstones to Djokovic's game. Now, he sometimes can't seem to make rally shots amid the pressure of pivotal points.




Contesting his 18th career Masters event, Edmund fired his forehand with ambition, advancing to the third round for the first time. The British baseliner will face David Goffin for a quarterfinal spot.

Earlier today, the eighth-seeded Goffin broke serve four times repelling Robin Haase, 7-5, 6-3.

Three years ago, Goffin rallied from a two-set deficit subduing Edmund, 3-6, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0, on red clay in the 2015 Davis Cup final.

Two-time Madrid champion Djokovic played one of his most complete matches of the season fighting off Monte-Carlo finalist Kei Nishikori in his Madrid opener.

After a slow start that saw Djokovic fighting the afternoon sun and a sometimes flaky forehand, he played a commanding second set forcing Edmund into a decider.

The final set turned when Edmund denied triple-break point fighting through a hard-fought hold for 3-2. The Australian Open semifinalist, who had not won a point on Djokovic's serve throughout the early stages of the final set, broke for 5-3 then served out the match.

It was a shaky and sloppy opening set from Djokovic, whose forehand failed him at times as he dropped serve in the opening game. Edmund broke three times in the first set, including breaking for 3-2 on a Djokovic double fault. 

Squinting into the high afternoon sun, Djokovic steered a forehand deep to face triple set point.

Edmund drilled a backhand return down the line scoring his third break at love to snatch a one-set lead.

The 30-year-old Serbian, who rushed through some of his service games in the opener, settled in to break to open the second set and quickly confirmed the break.

Rallying from a love-30 hole, Edmund held in the fifth game.

An hour into the match, an engaged Djokovic was spreading the court forcing the 23-year-old Briton to dig shots out of the corners. A jolting crosscourt backhand banged out the second break of the set as Djokovic stretched the lead to 5-2.

Exuding more energy and firing his forehand with greater accuracy, Djokovic cruised through the second set to force a decider after 66 minutes.

Rolling through a love hold, Djokovic began working over Edmund's weaker two-handed backhand wing gaining triple break point in the fifth game.

A defiant Edmund denied all three, including curling an ace out wide on the second break point then drawing a backhand error on the third break point. Trying to target the Brit's backhand, Djokovic found the top of the tape with a forehand. Edmund reeled off six straight points holding for 3-2.

Jitters and a bad bounce struck the former No. 1 in the eighth game. Driven backward by an Edmund return, an off-balance Djokovic pushed a forehand into net to face break point.

Edmund opened the court with a drive down the line. Djokovic tried to reset with a high topspin forehand, but his shot sailed beyond the baseline as Edmund broke for 5-3.




Showing no trace of nerve, Edmund served it out the match at love and when Djokovic's backhand return sailed beyond the baseline, the world No. 22 was through in one hour, 42 minutes.


 

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