Great Britain's Dan Evans was found wanting against fourth seed Kei Nishikori in the second round of the BNP Paribas Masters at Indian Wells.
Almost four years have passed since Evans sprang a major shock when beating Nishikori in the US Open first round, but Sunday's clash between the pair offered no such upset.
Instead British number two Evans bowed out 6-3 6-4 to Japan's leading player, as he joined doubles partner Andy Murray in making an exit from the singles event.
The statistics laid his shortcomings on Sunday bare, with Evans landing only 45 per cent of his first serves and then winning just over a third of points on his second delivery.
Murray's shock defeat to Canada's Vasek Pospisil had left British hopes in the men's event resting on the shoulders of Evans and Kyle Edmund, who faces Novak Djokovic later on Sunday.
Nishikori cruised through the opening set before finding greater resistance from Evans in the second. At 4-4, Evans had an eye on forcing a decider, but he gave up his serve and Nishikori made no mistake in closing out the match.
Just like in their Davis Cup clash in Birmingham last March, the world number five took the shortest route to victory.
