Kyle Edmund has blamed his shock US Open exit on a recurring viral illness.
The British number one came into the last Grand Slam of the season with high hopes but crashed out in round one to 36-year-old Paolo Lorenzi.
Edmund was noticeably struggling with his movement in the fourth set of his 4-6 6-4 7-5 6-1 defeat as he toiled in the fierce heat in New York.
Seeds @Kyle8Edmund and @GrigorDimitrov sent packing from the #USOpen on opening day
— Tennis365 (@T365Official) August 27, 2018
“I don’t really know what it is. I don’t want to say too many details. It’s basically just put me back quite a bit, which is a shame. It’s already better than it was just clearly not good enough. It’s an illness and it just takes it out of you,” Edmund said post-match.
“For sure I’m disappointed I’m like this but I’ve just got to get better. It’s a shame it ended like it did because it’s pretty horrible. I know where I can be physical, I’ve proved that to myself, but I need to get back there.”
