Dan Evans Eliminated from Australian Open Qualifying, Cam Norrie Advances in Auckland

Dan Evans, the former British No 1, has been knocked out of the Australian Open qualifying round after suffering a first-round loss to Japan's Rei Sakamoto. The 35-year-old struggled with his serve, double-faulting four times and only managing to make 48 per cent of his first serves, compared to Sakamoto's 74 per cent. This marks the second consecutive year Evans has been eliminated in the first round of qualifying in Melbourne. In contrast, Britain's Cam Norrie secured a victory in his opening match at the ASB Classic in Auckland, defeating French qualifier Hugo Gaston 6-3 6-4. Norrie will face either Roberto Bautista Agut or Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the next round. Other British players, including Arthur Fery and George Loffhagen, advanced to the second round of qualifying, while Jack Pinnington Jones and Jay Clarke were eliminated.