DAN EVANS crashed out of the Australian Open’s first qualifying round today as the British number five was beaten in three sets by Japan’s James Trotter in Melbourne.

Having had his serve broken in the opening game of the match en route to losing the first set, the same happened to Evans at the beginning of the second.

The 34-year-old hit back by taking the next four games as he claimed set two to bring things level, but Trotter then prevailed again, breaking Evans to go 4-2 up in the third before closing out a 6-4 3-6 6-3 victory.

In the women’s qualifiers, Harriet Dart made it safely through to the second round by defeating Lizette Cabrera.

The British number four triumphed 6-2 7-6 (5) and will now face Cabrera’s fellow Australian Taylah Preston in the next round on Tuesday.

British number six Heather Watson also advanced as she overcame Serbia’s Lola Radivojevic in three sets, triumphing 7-5 6-7 (14) 6-2 to set up a clash with American Varvara Lepchenko.