‘I am not looking forward to playing any tennis’ – Dan Evans searching for answers after defeat to Sebastian Korda

Dan Evans insists the show must go on despite being left searching for answers on how to snap his losing streak, after another defeat on the opening day at Queen’s.

Evans was comfortably beaten 6-4 7-5 by American Sebastian Korda on centre court to continue a poor run of form that has seen losses at the first time of asking at the French Open, Rome Masters and Madrid Masters.

The defeat leaves the Birmingham-born player low on confidence ahead of Wimbledon, but Evans knows he must keep plugging away in order to turn the tide.

He said: “I am not looking forward to playing any tennis at the minute, it’s tough. When you feel no confidence, it is not a good spot to be in.

“I would love to say I am looking forward to playing my next match, but I am not and that is the honest truth.

“Things aren’t going the way I want them to go. Getting a hotdog lobbed over your head when you are 15-30 probably sums up my year so far.

“I am trying to get in front in matches and it is not happening for me, but you are always very close in this game to turning it around.

“There is no magic formula in this game to get the wins. I have to compete hard, harder than I did today and be better mentally.

“It is becoming difficult to do that with the amount of losses. It is frustrating and a little bit embarrassing. It is hard to see what I can do next.

“I have just got to stick with it. panicking and worrying about it isn’t going to help, it’s about getting back out there on the practice court, in the gym.

“Right now it is not good tennis, but if you stick with it hopefully it will change, there aren’t any other answers to it.”

Fifth-seed Anhelina Kalinina progressed past Alycia Parks 6-4 6-4 to set up a date with the winner of an all-British class between Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage, while third seed Magda Linette battled past Jasmine Paolini 6-3 5-7 6-4 to tee up a likely encounter with new British no.1 Katie Boulter.