Kei Nishikori beats Dan Evans at Indian Wells
Rafael Nadal beats Guido Pella
Monday 13 March 2017 14:35, UK
Dan Evans followed Andy Murray out of Indian Wells as he suffered a 6-3 6-4 defeat to Kei Nishikori in an entertaining affair in California.
After Murray's shock defeat to Vasek Pospisil on Saturday night, Evans was the first match on court on Sunday in a blockbuster day of action with Kyle Edmund also carrying British hopes against Novak Djokovic.
The British number two had to rely on his ability to stay in the rallies to keep the match alive but Nishikori wasted barely any opportunity that came his way, moving into the last 32.
Despite breaking the world number five in the opening game of the match, Evans was immediately broken back as Nishikori showcased his talents and Evans' serve let him down.
At 4-4 in the second set, Evans, who beat Nishikori at the US Open in 2013, kept pace with the Japanese fourth seed for long stretches and looked capable of forcing a decider or at the very least a tie-break.
But Nishikori's ability to conjure a winner at vital moments secured victory and a meeting with Gilles Muller, the 25th seed who beat Jiri Vesely 7-6 6-1.
Three-time champion Rafael Nadal also came through in straight sets against Guido Pella to book a place in the third round.
The Spaniard, runner-up to Roger Federer at the Australian Open, recovered from the shock of an early break in the searing hit of the Californian desert to run out a comfortable 6-3 6-2 winner, something that could be crucial in a quarter loaded with high-quality contenders.
Nadal will face either Fernando Verdasco or Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the last 32 but the fifth seed was pleased to get his first match and first win of this year's Masters series under his belt.
"It was a difficult first round," Nadal said.
"He's a player who is always tough, a complete player. He's a lefty like me, so it's always tricky to play."
Other winners early on Sunday included 14th seed Lucas Pouille, who was the first winner of the day. The Frenchman is through to face either Donald Young or Sam Querrey after a 6-3 6-2 victory over Germany's Jan Lennard Struff.
There was success for another German, 18th seed Alexander Zverev came through a thrilling first-set tie break to beat Argentina's Facundo Bagnis 7-6 6-3 while Tunisia's Malek Jaziri ended the hopes of 32nd seed Marcel Granollers with another straight sets success.
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