British tennis hopes suffered a brutal blow at the US Open as Dan Evans was unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament in the first round. The 34-year-old was comprehensively outplayed by Australian ace Alex de Minaur, succumbing to a demoralising 6-1, 6-1, 7-5 defeat on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.
The match was a stark reminder of the gulf in class between the two players on this occasion. Evans, currently ranked world No. 61, looked a shadow of his usual self, struggling to find any rhythm or answer to the relentless pressure applied by his opponent.
A One-Sided Affair From The Start
From the first serve, it was clear Evans was in for a torrid time. De Minaur, the 10th seed, was in scintillating form, breaking the Briton's serve with ease and dictating the pace of the entire match. The first two sets were a masterclass in aggressive, precise tennis from the Australian, who wrapped them up in a little over an hour, conceding just two games.
Evans managed to muster a flicker of resistance in the third set, briefly raising hopes of an improbable comeback. He fought hard to extend the contest, but the mountain was simply too high to climb. De Minaur broke Evans' serve once more to seal the victory and book his place in the second round.
Post-Match Reaction & What's Next
The defeat marks another early Grand Slam exit for Evans, who will be left to rue a missed opportunity and a painfully below-par performance. The loss will also see him plummet down the ATP rankings, adding further disappointment to a already difficult season.
For Alex de Minaur, the victory reinforces his status as a serious contender. His powerful and efficient performance sends a clear warning to the rest of the field that he is in New York to compete for the title.
