MAKING his debut in the men's tournament at Wimbledon next week will be a dream come true for Tickton tennis star Kyle Edmund.
The 18-year-old, rated as Britain's most promising youngster, has been handed a wildcard entry for the men's singles and doubles for the first time and will face Poland's Jerzy Janowicz, the 24th seed, in the first round.
The ex-Beverley Grammar School boy, who has previously played in the junior tournament, said: "For me, it has been a dream to play at Wimbledon since I was a small boy starting to play tennis, so to play there is a dream come true.
"My family will be there to watch. I don't get to see them often, so it's nice on this sort of special occasion I get to share that with them.
"They have put in a lot of hard work. It's not only me just going out and playing tennis, they have supported me all the way, right from getting up at 5.30am to play before school. It has all been worth it."
Kyle's parents, Steven and Denise, and sister Kelly will visit Wimbledon during the fortnight to see him play in the men's singles and doubles, as well as in the juniors.
Mr Edmund said: "Kyle will have some nerves but I think he will be less nervous in the men's because there is no expectation on him in the senior tournament.
"This is his third Wimbledon after playing in the juniors in the past two years.
"We are used to the environment now but it can be very nerve-wracking watching. With any sport, it's harder to be a spectator than it is as a player because you can't influence anything."
Kyle stands a good chance of success in the juniors after clinching boys' doubles titles at the US Open and French Open.
Mr Edmund said: "I think he has got as good a chance as anyone of winning the boys' tournament.
"He went to the French Open to try to win. He came unstuck in the quarter-finals of the singles but won the doubles."
Kyle was the first Briton to win a title at the French Open for 31 years when he clinched the boys' doubles last month.
Mr Edmund is delighted his son's dedication is paying off.
He said: "It has been a long haul, definitely. He has been training for about eight years pretty much every day. It has got more intense as he has got older.
"We have done lots of travelling round and have spent many weekends in cold tennis centres."
Kyle, who is now ranked in the world's top 450, was narrowly defeated by world number 17 Gilles Simon in the Aegon International in Eastbourne this week.
Mr Edmund said it was "quite a surreal experience" seeing his son's match on TV.
Media commentators praised the teenager's "sparkling" tennis in a performance that belied his years.
But Kyle's family are careful not to heap expectation on the youngster.
Mr Edmund said: "We are not putting pressure on him and I hope other people don't.
"I have been quite impressed with how he has been dealing with the national press, he has had quite a lot of one-on-one interviews and he seems to be coping with that fine."
The Wimbledon tournament begins on Monday.
