2023-08-15 22:53:25
British number two Dan Evans is ranked 28th in the world
Dan Evans and Cameron Norrie have both been knocked out in the first round of the Cincinnati Open.
Evans won his first ATP 500 title at the Citi Open this month but was beaten 6-4 6-3 by Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.
British number one and 13th seed Norrie was defeated 6-3 4-6 3-6 by Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Evans, who is the British number two, was set to play on Monday but heavy rain in Cincinnati delayed his match with Musetti until Tuesday.
The 33-year-old was also beaten in the opening round of the Canadian Open last week as he prepares for the US Open which starts 28 August.
Evans was broken in the first game by Musetti but managed to level at 4-4, before the world number 18 took control and sealed the opening set.
A double fault from Evans handed the 21-year-old a break of serve early in the second set, and Musetti held his nerve to break the Briton again in the final game.
Musetti will face Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev in the second round.
World number 15 Norrie, 27, started well against Monfils and took the first set, but he was unable to build on his advantage and was suffered the same fate as Evans.
Monfils will take on either Australian Alex de Minaur or American JJ Wolf in the next round.
Earlier, Andy Murray pulled out of the tournament in Cincinnati as he is still suffering from the abdominal strain that forced him to withdraw from the Canadian Open.
In the women’s draw, wildcard Caroline Wozniacki’s second event back after three years away ended in defeat by lucky loser Varvara Gracheva.
Former world number one Wozniacki, 33, announced she would return to tennis in June after retiring in 2020 but she was beaten 6-4 6-4 in 95 minutes by France’s Gracheva.
“I still have about 10 days to prepare for the US Open,” Wozniacki said. “There is quite a few things that I feel like I need to do better,”
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