Kyle Edmund was defiant. “You want to achieve in the game,” he said.
“You don't just want to make up the numbers.”
After a superb fortnight in Melbourne, the world No.49 is doing much more than that – and has come a long way since his first professional outing in April 2010.
Then, the 15-year-old fell in the opening round of qualifying in a Futures event in Bournemouth, UK, 6-0 6-0 to Swiss Raphael Lustenberger.
Fast-forward to 2018, and the 23-year-old is gearing up for a maiden major semifinal.
It’s certainly a team effort for Edmund, who has enjoyed a rare standout victory or a gladiatorial showing in Davis Cup, but hasn’t been able to glue together significant victories in Grand Slams. Until now.
“This is teamwork and I like that a lot, it’s very important people know it’s not just me,” said gregarious coach Fredrik Rosengren.
The Swede joined the Edmund set-up at the end of last season to partner Mark Hilton, while Ian Prangley is Edmund’s physical trainer and physiotherapist.
Edmund has relocated to train at the Lleyton Hewitt Academy in Nassau, Bahamas, which was where the team plotted the Brit’s 2018 strategy.
“It’s a process, we can spend more time talking than on the court,” said Rosengren, who coached former top-10 stalwarts Magnus Norman and Robin Soderling.
“Tennis is such a mental game. I’m not here to work too much on his forehand or backhand, they’re already great. It’s more about his belief, to use his strengths in the right moments. It’s about finding the balance and dealing with the tension.”
Edmund has always demonstrated a relentless work ethic and steely determination on the court, but Rosengren is adamant that his protégé can be more expressive and outwardly enjoy his matches.
“I always believe it has to be fun out there, you have to enjoy the challenge, it’s not always about winning or losing,” he said.
“Sometimes you can be part of a great match, but you lost.”
The British No.2 looked extremely relaxed while practising with Australian Open 2002 champion Thomas Johansson on Wednesday, in preparation for Thursday’s final-four showdown with Marin Cilic.
His joint coach is impressed how Edmund has handled the gravitas of the challenges presented to him so far at Melbourne Park, but maintains it won’t change his charge.
“I think he’s realised his life has changed more and more forever,” declared Rosengren.
“He’s a great guy, polite, very down to earth. I think this success will help his own self-esteem.
“I don’t expect him to go out and buy a Ferrari tomorrow, he’s very humble. At the same time, it’s great for his personality that he’s achieving. This is confidence as a person and a player.”
That positivity, coupled with Edmund’s usual hard work, has reaped rewards in a breakout Grand Slam in Melbourne.
He opened his campaign with a five-set thriller against US Open finalist Kevin Anderson, staved off 40-degree heat in the third round, and then upset No.3 seed Grigor Dimitrov to surge into the semifinals.
His composure combined with such clinical, crisp ball-striking against Dimitrov was mightily impressive, but it is the on-court presence of Edmund which captured Rosengren.
“He was unbelievable. After the Anderson win, he played three matches as the favourite, starting slow with bad movement because of the nerves,” the Swede said.
“I told him to go on court facing forward, chest out, to enjoy it. I was so happy when I saw him walk confidently onto Rod Laver Arena. I told him even if he got killed in the match, he took to the stage, he was a man, he acted like he deserved it.
“We want Kyle to fully understand the game. If he has the pressure, or his opponent has the pressure, we want him to keep the eyes open, to also look at the other side of the net.
“Everything we talked about in the lead-up to the match, he did it on court. I’m the happiest guy, not just for this match, but for the future too.
“He’s very relaxed, and that’s the nicest part that he can grow as a person and player.”
Edmund’s sensational fortnight at Melbourne Park is even more astonishing considering he only began taking tennis seriously at the age of 12.
Born in Johannesburg in 1995, Edmund’s family upped sticks for the UK – Yorkshire, to be precise – in 1998.
As a youngster, Kyle was a handy cricketer with bat and ball. His ability to swat away sixes, to the relief of British Tennis, transferred to crushing his main weapon, his cannonball forehand.
Ever since, the signs have been coming. In 2011, he was the talisman in the Great Britain's junior Davis Cup triumph.
In 2014, Edmund received his first Davis Cup call-up, and has flourished under the wing of Andy Murray. Whether it is on the practice courts or as a teammate representing Team GB, the three-time Grand Slam champion has had a seismic impact.
“At some point you have to take your own path,” stated Rosengren.
Edmund is tired of the line of questioning on Murray. The Dimitrov victory well and truly launched him out of the Scot’s shadow.
Boosted by a triumvirate of coaching support, Edmund is primed to continue Rosengren’s positivity project.