Cameron Norrie was crushed in straight units by fifteenth seed Karen Khachanov within the first spherical of the Monte Carlo Masters.
Norrie fought laborious in a match lasting two hours and 25 minutes however went down 7-5 7-6 (7-3) to the Russian.
The British primary had two set factors to stage the match at one set all earlier than Khachanov got here via within the tie-break.
Fellow Briton Dan Evans was crushed 6-1 6-4 by Austria’s Sebastian Ofner.
Norrie broke on the first time of asking to go 2-0 up within the first set however Khachanov instantly broke again.
The Russian secured the decisive break, the final of 5 in opening set, within the eleventh sport and broke once more to start out the second set.
Norrie responded within the subsequent sport and broke once more for a 5-3 lead however couldn’t serve out the set.
He had one other likelihood to interrupt and drive a deciding set however two set factors went begging and the momentum was with Khachanov as he stormed forward within the tie-break.
Norrie managed to avoid wasting two match factors however Khachanov transformed the third and advances to play Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo within the second spherical.
In the meantime, world quantity 50 Evans, enjoying his second match of the season on clay, misplaced a 70-minute match to Ofner.
Evans had two break factors within the opening sport however couldn’t convert and went on to lose the subsequent 4 video games.
He dropped serve early within the second set and, regardless of a late wobble from Ofner, couldn’t drive a decider.
British quantity three Evans has not received back-to-back singles matches on the ATP Tour this 12 months.
The occasion in Monte Carlo is without doubt one of the 9 Masters tournaments, that are the largest males’s tour occasions outdoors of the 4 Grand Slams.
Jack Draper takes on Poland’s tenth seed Hubert Hurkacz on Tuesday.
