Evans comes up short against Nishikori

Great Britain’s Dan Evans was found wanting against the fourth seed Kei Nishikori in the second round of the BNP Paribas Masters at Indian Wells.

Almost four years have passed since Evans sprang a major shock when beating Nishikori in the US Open first round, but Sunday’s clash between the pair offered no such upset.

Instead British number two Evans bowed out 6-3 6-4 to Japan’s leading player, as he joined doubles partner Andy Murray in making an exit from the singles event.

The statistics laid his shortcomings yesterday bare, with Evans landing only 45% of his first serves and then winning just over a third of points on his second delivery.

Nishikori cruised through the opening set before finding greater resistance from Evans in the second.

At 4-4, Evans had an eye on forcing a decider, but he gave up his serve and Nishikori made no mistake in closing out the match.

Just like in their Davis Cup clash in Birmingham last March, the world number five took the shortest route to victory.

Meanwhile, Johanna Konta was also bounced out. The 11th-seeded Briton was ousted in the third round of the women’s singles by France’s Caroline Garcia.

Garcia, who six years ago was described by Murray as a future world number one, has yet to quite live up to that billing.

But the 21st seed showed impressive resilience against Konta. She fought back from a set down to win 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7/1), sealing her win and a place in the last 16 with a cross-court backhand.

Picture: Getty. Johanna Konta lost to France’s Caroline Garcia in the third round of the women’s singles at Indian Wells.