The day after Kyle Edmund returned from the French Open, he squeezed into a pub in Fulham crammed with supporters, all in their Liverpool shirts, except for an elderly regular in the corner stubbornly sporting full Chelsea gear.
Britain's No 1 male tennis player, who will lead home hopes for the singles at Wimbledon next month, had gone with friends to watch his team in the Champions League final. By half-time, with Liverpool ahead, the crowd had become so boisterous and lacking in spatial awareness that Edmund decided to watch the second half at his friend's house.
In 2005, a 10-year-old Edmund defied his mum's orders to go to bed to stay up to watch Liverpool triumph in the Champions League final. Last year, when they made it to the final again, he watched it at Roland Garros the weekend before the start of the French Open. 'That wasn't much fun in the end,' says Edmund. Liverpool lost 3-1 to Real Madrid. 'This time it was great!' Edmund loves talking about Liverpool, even more than he enjoys chatting tennis.
The day after Kyle Edmund returned from the French Open, he squeezed into a pub in Fulham
He rattles on with little prompting: 'Amazing to miss out on the league with 97 points… we deserved some silverware for the overall season… since Jurgen Klopp came in, it's always felt like there's something happening.'
Edmund and Klopp share more than just a football team. Klopp loves his tennis. The Liverpool boss enjoys playing paddle tennis, and had a court built at Melwood, the club's training ground, right next to the practice pitches.
In April, ahead of Liverpool's game against Huddersfield, Edmund, 24, was invited to meet Klopp and the players and watch training. 'Jurgen was telling me how much his family are really into tennis,' says Edmund. 'He loves watching it. He came over and chatted about it and I asked him about football: why he chose Liverpool, what he looks for in transfers.
'He gave me a Champions League match ball from the group stages, which is now on my shelf at home next to signed shirts. Then we went for a tour of Anfield. I was like a little kid. It's probably one of the best days of my life!'
Edmund loves striker Roberto Firmino and asked for a photo while at training but which player does Edmund think he is most like? There's a pause.
Britain's No 1 male player had gone with friends to watch his team in the Champions League
'Maybe someone like James Milner — pretty straightforward, nothing fancy,' says Edmund, a Jaguar ambassador. 'Gets on with it. Doesn't do all the tricks but so good for the team.
'People used to take the micky out of him for being too boring but, as he's got older, his reputation has gone up. An unbelievable professional.'
Had Edmund not been a tennis player, he admits he may well have pursued a career in cricket. It came easily to him at school. By the time he was eight, he was playing with the 11-year-olds at Pocklington School. Bowled a bit, batted a bit before focusing on tennis in Year 7.
Eventually, the conversation reaches tennis. Wimbledon is around the corner and Edmund will go into it as still the British No 1 despite a frustrating season.
Last year, Edmund enjoyed his most successful campaign: a Grand Slam semi-final in Australia, his first tour singles title at the European Open and up to 14th in the world rankings.
This year
