Dan Evans’ preparations for the US Open hit one other stumbling block with a first-round defeat on the Western and Southern Open.
Evans started the US hard-court swing in elegant trend by successful the largest match of his profession in Washington however misplaced within the first spherical in Toronto final week.
And he suffered one other swift exit in Cincinnati, happening 6-4 6-3 to Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.
The match was imagined to be performed on Monday however was cancelled on account of inclement climate and Evans will likely be wishing the rain had returned.
It was a troublesome draw in opposition to the world quantity 18 and the primary set may have gone both manner.
Evans began off inconspicuously and was damaged within the opening recreation however recovered to degree at 4-4.
But the British quantity two instantly misplaced his function Musetti once more took management.
Evans didn’t surrender, although, and compelled two break factors to degree at 5-5, however the Italian held him off to take the primary set.
A double fault from Evans handed his opponent a break early within the second set and there was no coming again, with a second break sufficient to ship Musetti by.
There was additionally a first-round defeat for British primary Cameron Norrie, who misplaced to Frenchman Gael Monfils.
The world quantity 15 started nicely and took the primary set, however went on to lose 3-6 6-4 6-3.
It means there isn’t a extra British curiosity after Andy Murray had been set to face eleventh seed Karen Khachanov, however match organisers introduced he had withdrawn late on Monday evening due to an stomach pressure.
The former world primary had additionally pulled out of his last-16 match on the National Bank Open in Toronto final week.
Murray is aiming to get well in time for the US Open, which begins on August 28.