Edmund joins Murray and Ward in Australian Open draw

There was mixed news in the last round of qualification to the main draw for the Australian Open for the Brits, as Kyle Edmund triumphed dramatically against Dane Propoggia while his compatriot Liam Broady fell at the final hurdle with defeat to Michael Russell.

For 20-year-old Edmund it will be the first time he has qualified for a Grand Slam and marks a potential turning point in his Tennis career.

He had to fight all the way to achieve that distinction though, as the home favourite Aussie Propoggia pushed him all the way in an epic three-set match.

After losing the first set on a tie-break 7-3, the Brit forced his way back into the match to take the second 6-4 before enduring what must have seemed like a never-ending third set, which was eventually decided at 9-7 in his favour.

Sadly for British sports' fans, Broady could not match the feats of his fellow Englishman, as he was eliminated from the tournament by Russell in straight sets, 7-5 6-3, and joins his sister Naomi who also fell in the qualifiers earlier in the week.

With three men now in the main draw for the singles (to supplement Heather Watson on the women's side) it reflects something of an upturn in British tennis fortunes, as it is the first time since 2002 that they have had such representation at the first Slam of the year. They will be desperately hoping that British success continues when the first round proper starts, although only Murray and Watson seem to have been blessed so far with a favourable draw.

Ward faces the tricky left-hander, Fernando Verdasco in a match he is not expected to triumph in, although he should by no means feel overawed going into the match with the Spaniard. Similarly, Edmund will now face the American world number 39, Steve Johnson from America, who is more than 150 places higher in the rankings than the South African-born Brit.

With Edmund's serve seeming to be his most potent weapon, he will seek to harness that as he seeks to add to Johnson's woes at the Australian Open, having lost in the first round in the last two years.