Edmund was really impressive to begin the tie winning the first set 6-1 in a strong start. Ward began the following set by mixing it up and going 3-2 up as a result as he looked to force the initiative.

The former started to become stronger though again going a set and a break up but Ward wasn't done claiming a break himself but in a period where both struggled with their serve; Edmund edged through as he shakes off some rust after a few months out of competitive action.

Also there was a seismic shock in the doubles to begin proceedings as Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski who are an experienced pairing fell to the first time team of Liam Broady and Cameron Norrie, two singles specialists.

Murray and Skupski took the first set 6-3 in just over 30 minutes. But from there, Broady and Norrie stormed out of the blocks edging a close second set tiebreak pressuring the serve of Skupski and pouncing on an error to take it.

They won the final tie-break 11-9 taking a commanding 5-1 lead to begin and the duo always kept them at arms length until the final points when Skupski brought it back to 9-9 but as soon as they brought it back, Broady and Norrie took the first opportunity to serve it out.