French Open: England’s Dan Evans knocked out in first round after defeat to Thanasi Kokkinakis | Tennis news

Dan Evans was eliminated in the first round of the French Open following a defeat to Thanasi Kokkinakis, leaving only two British players in a singles draw.

British No. 2 Evans, ranked 25th in the world and seeded 20th in this event, was defeated 6-4 6-4 6-4 by world No. 108 Kokkinakis on the opening day of the Grand Prix. Slam at Roland Garros.

Evans’ compatriots Cameron Norrie and Jack Draper will compete over the next few days in Paris, at the tournament that Andy Murray withdrew in favor of the grass-court season.

There will be no British participation in the women’s draw.

Emma Raducanu was absent from ankle and wrist surgery and none of her countrywomen made it through to qualifying, with Harriet Dart and Katie Boulter among those hit.

Evans – who has now lost five of his six matches in the first round at the French Open – has criticized British tennis this week, saying Raducanu’s 2021 US Open victory has ” overcome the cracks”.

The 33-year-old appeared to have turned the tide of the game against Kokkinakis in the second set as he led 4-1, but in the next game, leading 30-0, he was fouled when he crossed the mid-court line and loser. four consecutive points.

Annoyed Evans threw his water bottle on the floor, broke the code and failed to win another game in the set.

He gave himself a chance to break Kokkinakis – who was defeated by Murray in two sets in the early hours of the morning at the Australian Open in January – to make it 4-4 in the third set.

But then he dropped serve again before Kokkinakis finished winning to qualify for the second round with 2015 champions Stanislas Wawrinka or Albert Ramos Vinolas.