BRIT, Kyle Edmund has taken out the New York Open with a straight sets win over Italian veteran, Andreas Seppi. The 25-year-old headed into the final as the favourite, but due to the surprising nature of the hardcourt event, neither had faced a top four seed on their way to the final. Edmund, ranked 45 in the world with just the one title to his name – Antwerp, 2018 – heading into the final, was able to bolster his ranking up 17 places to number 45 with the 7-5 6-1 win.

Likewise, Seppi’s performance throughout the tournament propelled the 35-year-old up 18 places to 80th, and now well entrenched inside the top 100 on the ATP Tour. The Italian has won three titles before, but none since 2012 and has now lost four consecutive finals. He was unable to crack into Seppi’s serve, winning just eight points in the match with the Brit serving, while winning 55 per cent of points on-serve. Edmund on the other hand was absolutely sensational when serving, having a 69 per cent efficiency to go with his 11 aces and only dropped two points off his first serve. Edmund also won 67 per cent of points off Seppi’s second serve and converted three of a possible seven break points, without giving the Italian a chance to break.

Overall, Edmund won 61 per cent of the total points in the match, and the title gives the big serving Brit a 7-3 win-loss record for the year, and moved himself inside the top 50 in the world since October last year. There will not be much time to celebrate his win though, with Edmund now moving onto Delray Beach where he faces sixth seed, Ugo Humbert in the first round. Seppi also takes to the court in Delray Beach and he has an even tougher assignment – number two seed, Canada’s Milos Raonic – up first.