Dan Evans endured a chastening afternoon at Melbourne Park as Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto dispatched the former British number one 6-1 6-2 in just 66 minutes.
The 35-year-old's serve proved his undoing throughout the contest, with four double faults and a first-serve percentage of merely 48 compared to his opponent's 74.
Evans was unable to fashion a single break point opportunity during the match, whilst Sakamoto converted five of seven chances against the Briton's serve.
The comprehensive defeat means Evans has once again fallen at the opening hurdle of Australian Open qualifying.
British tennis star Dan Evans was beaten in just over an hour
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This marks the second successive year that Evans has departed Melbourne at the first qualifying stage, a troubling pattern for the veteran player.
His Grand Slam fortunes in 2025 proved equally difficult, with Wimbledon representing his sole main draw appearance across all four majors – and that came only through a wildcard invitation rather than qualification or ranking.
Evans reached the fourth round at Melbourne Park back in 2017, which remains his best performance at the Australian Open.
Players must navigate three qualifying rounds to secure a place in the main draw, which commences on Sunday 18 January.
Jack Pinnington Jones also suffered an early exit in Melbourne
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Evans was not the only British player to suffer disappointment on Monday, with three compatriots also making early exits from qualifying.
Jay Clarke fell in straight sets to Brazilian Gustavo Heide, failing to claim a set against his opponent.
Jack Pinnington Jones met a similar fate, going down in two sets to Belgium's Gilles Arnaud Bailly.
Oliver Crawford came closest to progressing among the defeated quartet, pushing Spain's Daniel Merida Aguilar to a deciding set before eventually succumbing 6-3 2-6 6-3.
The results left British hopes in qualifying significantly diminished after the opening round of matches.
The British contingent did receive some welcome news, however, as two players successfully navigated their opening qualifying encounters.
Arthur Fery produced a confident display against home favourite Edward Winter, securing victory 6-2 6-4 to book his place in the second round.
George Loffhagen required considerably more effort to advance, needing tiebreaks in both sets to see off Germany's Justin Engel 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2).
Both players now face two further qualifying victories to reach the main draw, where Cameron Norrie and Jacob Fearnley already await as Britain's confirmed representatives in the men's singles.