Gael Monfils too strong for Kyle Edmund as another Briton exits Wimbledon

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British No.2 Kyle Edmund continued his dismal record at Wimbledon, crashing out in the second round after a defeat in straight sets to Gael Monfils.

Edmund had reached this stage for the first time at the fifth time of asking after dispatching fellow Brit Alex Ward on Tuesday, but he was comfortably beaten 6-7(1-7), 4-6, 4-6 in sweltering conditions on Centre Court.

The match was a story of opportunities wasted and momentum squandered for Edmund, who impressed in patches but consistently allowed the 15th-seed back into the match.

Edmund failed to convert four break points in a pulsating ninth game of the first set, relinquished control of the second set before squandering a break in the third.

Although he broke Monfils' twice, the Frenchman breezed through service games, sometimes in barely a minute, and when it mattered he was too good for Edmund. He won the first-set tie-break 7-1, and finished both the second and third sets with dominant service games to love.

Edmund was aiming to be the fifth Brit into the third round at Wimbledon -- that has not happened since 1997 -- after progress for Andy Murray, Johanna Konta, Heather Watson and Aljaz Bedene, and he made a confident start, holding his first two service games to love.

Monfils was equally dominant on serve, however, and when the match came to life in a dramatic ninth game, the Frenchman saved four break points before clinching it. The set finished without a break, although Edmund had come closest.

If the set was tight, the tie-break was painfully one-sided. The difference between the best and the rest if often how they deal with pressure and Monfils' experience told as he dropped just one point, comfortably taking the first of five break points when Edmund hit a forehand return wide.

​Monfils broke again at the fourth time of asking in the third game of the second set to take control of the match but Edmund hit back superbly, helped a little by a tumble from Monfils, before holding to love, and taking 12 of 15 points, to take a 4-3 lead. Centre Court roared its appreciation for the first time.

With Edmund in the ascendency, Monfils rallied, holding and then breaking again to leave him serving for the second set. He blew Edmund away to love, finishing with a thumping ace.

Two down but not out, Edmund raced into a 3-0 lead in the third set but, once again, he could not capitalise on his advantage and Monfils won the next three games, yelling to his box at the conclusion of the last, knowing victory was in sight. The Frenchman did not let it slip, and Edmund found the net on match point.

He has already made his own personal history here but he will have to leave British history to Murray and Co.

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