KYLE EDMUND bashed himself in the leg but never looked like shooting himself in the foot.
The British No 1 hit his left shin on the follow-through from a first-set ace as he launched his French Open bid with victory over Alex De Minaur.
The Aussie, 19, threatened to inflict some pain on Edmund in a tight second set.
But the 23-year-old was simply too powerful and too clever for his opponent in the end as he triumphed 6-2 6-4 6-3.
Edmund said: “I played well. I think I played with intent.
“I was very pleased with how I managed my game.”
Edmund was superb in the opening set, hitting some trademark big serves and forehands but also showing great variety and intelligence in his play.
His serving performance dropped off in the second set and De Minaur was eventually able to break back to 4-4.
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But Edmund, who at 16th is seeded at a Grand Slam for the first time, took the Australian’s serve again at the start of the third set.
And he repeated the feat at the end to complete an impressive triumph in just one hour and 56 minutes.
Edmund said: “I gave too many cheap points away on my serve in the second set with double faults.
“I’m not surprised I got broken, I deserved it. In the third set I got it back and in the end I got the balance well.
He added: “It’s a long preparation for here.
“You always want to keep going and fine tune stuff, but when the day comes you have got to get out there and do your stuff.
“Throughout the match generally my concentration was very good.
“That’s something you’ve got to learn, it doesn’t come overnight. I respect Alex a lot, he’s the type of guy that will pounce on it if you do dip.”
He next faces Marton Fucsovics, the man who last week became the first Hungarian to win an ATP Tour title since 1982.
World No 45 Fucsovics beat Cadada’s Vasek Pospisil 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-5).
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