Dan Evans’ bid to become the British number one ended when he lost in straight sets to John Isner in the second round of the China Open.
Evans could not break the American’s serve and was beaten 7-6 (7-3) 7-5.
The 29-year-old, the world number 48, would have overtaken compatriot Kyle Edmund if he had reached the last four.
Evans’ defeat leaves Andy Murray, who faces top-seed Dominic Thiem of Austria in the last eight today, as the sole remaining Briton in the field.
Evans earned two break points in the ninth game of the first set but could not take either and big-serving Isner, 34, took the tie-break 7-3.
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