French Open: Dan Evans falls to Kei Nishikori in first round

Evans defeated in five sets against former top-10 stalwart Nishikori

Image: Dan Evans showed great fight in his five-set defeat to Kei Nishikori

Dan Evans' hopes of a run at the French Open ended with a battling first-round five-set defeat to former world No 4 Kei Nishikori on the opening day of the tournament.

Evans, who was looking for his first win at Roland Garros and, as the 32nd seed, would have hoped for an easier draw than Nishikori, who is working his way back from elbow injury.

Evans, who has never won a match on the Parisian clay, made the better start but Nishikori found his form and Evans had to scrap extremely hard to stay in contention.

He fought back from 0-3 in the deciding set only to go down 1-6 6-1 7-6 (7-3) 1-6 6-4 in three hours and 49 minutes.

"The end result was that I lost," said Evans. "I lost another first round which is a little disappointing and get ready for the indoor hardcourts."

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The British No 1 confirmed he will end his season by playing tournaments in St Petersburg, Vienna and Paris.

Nishikori has now won 24 of his 30 five-set matches in Grand Slams, including his last nine. He will take on Italy's Stefano Travaglia in the second round.

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