Kyle Edmund stuns Richard Gasquet at US Open with superb first round victory

British no. 4 Kyle Edmund has stunned Richard Gasquet at the US Open after easing to a straight sets victory over the Frenchman in the opening round. Edmund, ranked 84<sup>th in the world, was making his first appearance in the final grand slam of the year but provided a scintillating performance against the no. 13 seed, easing to a 6-2 6-2 6-3 win.

The 21-year-old broke his opponent with a ripping forehand to take a 3-1 lead and held his nerve to take the opening set. In roasting conditions at Flushing Meadows, the Briton barely broke a sweat as he maintained control in the second, breaking Gasquet to love as he sealed a comprehensive win to take one step into the second round.

Gasquet, a semi-finalist in this competition three years ago, had not lost in the first round of a grand slam since 2010 and desperately sought to preserve that record, breaking serve first in the third set. But the Frenchman wilted as the contest wore on and was unable to stop Edmund, who won the next five games to storm to the biggest win of his career to date.

Edmund will take on either Ernesto Escobedo or Lukas Lacko in the second round. Johanna Konta meanwhile gets her US Open campaign underway against American Bethanie Mattek-Sands while Andy Murray meets Lukas Rosol in his opening round match.