Kyle Edmund was eliminated from the Australian Open by Marin Cilic in the semifinals, but he has plenty to take away from his run in Melbourne.

“I’m very happy with the way I’ve gone about things: played a lot of tough matches, won some tough matches, beat good players. This type of tournament just gives you the bug to want more,” Edmund said.

Many tennis fans are glad to hear that he has the motivation to improve and further develop his skills, with his upside so large. Having been on the radar as an up-and-comer for a few years, he had recently become somewhat forgotten as other young players grabbed the spotlight. However, Edmund sent a reminder that he was still around with his play the last two weeks.

Edmund has the look of a champion, drawing some comparisons to 4-time major champion Jim Courier, due to his look on court, and at times, his style of play. He is solid and has one of the game’s most powerful forehands. But, importantly, he demonstrated improvement in his game during his semifinal run in Oz, underscoring his desire to continue to develop his overall game.

In the past, Edmund’s serve had often underwhelmed for a player his size. But improvements were noticeable during his two weeks in Australia, particularly with his use of placement. Likewise, he looked to move forward more frequently and found success, seeming more comfortable at the net during his run. A solid net game would be a great compliment to his improving serve as the season moves forward.

The Brit also showed an improvement in durability during the fortnight having played two five-set matches with one in the intense heat during the first week. He defeated Kevin Anderson in the first round and eliminated Nikoloz Basilashvili in the third round, both going the distance. Unfortunately, his nearly 15 hours on court may have finally taken its toll late in the tournament as he received treatment during his semifinal match. Nevertheless, he pushed Cilic to a tiebreak in the second set but could not even the match.

Edmund was clear that he has no desire to be labeled a flash in the pan as he recalled defeating Richard Gasquet and John Isner in a previous Grand Slam. He appears to have his sights set on loftier goals, “I know I can beat those players. It's just obviously doing it a bit more consistently. What the ranking represents is how consistent players are.”

The 23-year-old will leave Melbourne ranked world no. 26 having picked up 23 spots. He will now have his eyes on a seed at Roland Garros this spring.

Edmund has not reached his prime just yet but has significantly improved from the player he was just a year ago. Time will tell as to how strong his desire is to continue to climb towards the top and whether he can build off his recent results. But if the Australian Open is any indication, he could make serious waves in 2018 if he continues his upward trajectory.