Monte Carlo Masters: Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans heading house early after first-round exits | Tennis Information

British duo Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans each suffered early exits on the Monte Carlo Masters on Monday.

Norrie went all the way down to a painful 7-5 7-6 (7-3) defeat to Karen Khachanov in a match lasting two hours and 24 minutes on the prestigious ATP 1000 occasion on the Côte d’Azur.

Evans’ woes on clay continued as he fell to Austrian world No 44 Sebastian Ofner 6-1 6-4.

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Norrie, enjoying on clay for the primary time since February, began nicely and struck with the primary break of the match.

Nevertheless Khachanov broke straight again and toppled the Norrie serve once more at 6-5 to keep away from a first-set tie-break.

Each gamers broke one another firstly of the second set and Norrie seemed once more to be in management when he went 5-3 forward.

However as soon as once more the big-hitting world No 17 Khachanov broke again when it mattered and took the tie-break 7-3.

Muller: Norrie wants to seek out his consistency

“A number of extra unforced errors from Cam Norrie, particularly in these necessary moments as a result of he performed nicely for an enormous interval of this match however when he had possibilities, these had been the moments when he got here up with an unforced error,” former participant Gilles Muller mentioned on Sky Sports activities Tennis.

“However he had some patches when he performed rather well so I feel it has been encouraging for him. He simply wants to seek out his consistency.”

Story of the Tape

Evans was overwhelmed in his first match on the filth by Roberto Carballes Baena on the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakesh final week, and the British No 3 was outplayed by the big-swinging Ofner.

Evans had break level possibilities within the opening sport of the match however after failing to take any of them, he went on to drop 4 video games in a set which he went on to lose 6-1.

He improved within the subsequent set however once more dropped serve early on and was chasing from then on.

With slightly below an hour and 10 minutes on the clock, Ofner was serving for the match however provided Evans a glimmer of hope with a break level probability following a shocking 26-shot rally.

Nevertheless, the 27-year-old Austrian saved it and regained his composure to seal his place within the second spherical in opposition to Alexander Zverev.

Evans has gained simply three out of 11 matches he has performed in what has been a disappointing begin to the season.

He’s but to win back-to-back matches on tour in 2024, dropping within the first spherical and second spherical respectively on the current ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami earlier than going out early in Marrakesh.

Delgado: Disappointing match for Evans

“He had these break factors within the first sport of the match and once more within the final one, and had he taken the final one the sport may have gone both approach. You might see Ofner simply barely tightening up,” mentioned Andy Murray’s former coach Jamie Delgado.

“Ofner served nice and in all honesty he deserved the win, he performed a very good managed match and dictated play.”

Story of the Tape

“Dan’s second serve factors gained picked up within the second set nevertheless it was an enormous drawback for him successful the baseline rallies,” mentioned Delgado.

“He by no means actually received into Ofner’s service sport. He was a deserved winner.”

Tuesday on the Monte Carlo Masters

The clay court docket season continues on the Monte Carlo Masters this week – stay on Sky Sports activities Tennis from 10am, Tuesday – one of many largest tournaments within the lead-up to the second Grand Slam of the season, the French Open, which begins on Could 20.

Novak Djokovic faces Roman Safiullin (at round 2pm BST) with the world No 1 trying to win the title right here for the third time however first since 2015.

The highest-ranked Serb hasn’t made it previous the quarter-finals since then, and he may face defending champion Andrey Rublev within the final eight.

British hopes in singles competitors rests with younger Jack Draper. The 22-year-old faces a tricky job in opposition to Hubert Hurkacz (not earlier than 11.30am).

The Pole is in effective kind having gained the title in Estoril on Sunday.

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