Dan Evans and Cam Norrie reveal they have injury concerns before Australian Open first-round matches

Norrie was forced to withdraw from one of his favourite ATP events in AucklandDan Evans has also shed light on his concerns over ring rust following calf injury

Britain’s two highest-ranked players have both admitted to physical concerns before their Australian Open first-round matches, with Cam Norrie nursing a sore wrist which put him out of Auckland last week.

Both he and Dan Evans have injuries on their minds ahead of their first matches, though for the latter the worry is more about ring rust than the calf problem which put a premature end to last season.

Men’s No 19 seed Norrie admitted he was desperately disappointed to withdraw from the ATP event in the city where he spent a large part of his childhood.

He pulled out following his second-round win over young Frenchman Luca Van Assche.

‘There was not a particular moment where I felt something happen or anything. The next day I was a bit sore, wasn’t able to play,’ said Norrie, who is up against Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas in the first round tomorrow. ‘I did a scan which didn’t show anything too much.

Men’s No 19 seed Cameron Norrie was forced to withdraw from the ATP tour event in Auckland

Dan Evans has revealed he has an injury playing on his mind ahead of his first match

‘I’m here, and it’s feeling a bit better but I couldn’t play in Auckland, so obviously I’m concerned. We’re managing it with my team and luckily I’ve got a Tuesday start.’

For Evans, who takes on world No 46 Lorenzo Sonego, it is more about not having enough matches in his legs, having barely played since late October. The 33-year-old is playing for the likely chance to take on Carlos Alcaraz in the second round on Thursday.

‘I can definitely win my first match but it’s how my body holds up and how it will recover,’ said Evans. ‘It was sore last week. I just haven’t had as much practice and training as I would really like coming into here.’

In the meantime he has taken some ribbing about his recent injury. Evans added: ‘The amount of people who say it’s an old person’s thing, pulling a calf, is astonishing.’