Evans to miss Wimbledon after defeat in qualifying

Dan Evans will not play at Wimbledon after losing to German Matthias Bachinger in the second round of qualifying.

The 28-year-old, who was not given direct entry following his suspension for cocaine use last year, won three matches last week to earn a wild card into qualifying and came through his first match at Roehampton, but was well beaten by Bachinger, ranked 150.

Evans will now focus on trying to lift his ranking from 343 to ensure he is eligible for a place in US Open qualifying in August.

Meanwhile, the sole British player through to the final round of qualifying is his Davis Cup team-mate James Ward, who is working his own way back up the rankings after two years of knee trouble.

The 31-year-old, who reached the third round in 2015, beat America’s Bjorn Fratangelo 6-4, 6-4 and will play France’s Benjamin Bonzi for a spot in the main draw.

Other than Ward’s success, it was a miserable day for the hostnation,15-year-oldemma Raducanu the only other player of ten men and women to win a set,though she lost 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to Czech Barbora Stefkova.