Edmund suffers first-round defeat to Verdasco in Rome

Great Britain’s Kyle Edmund bowed out of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia after a first-round defeat by Fernando Verdasco in Rome.

Edmund took the first set 6-4, but Spaniard Verdasco hit back to win the second and third 6-4 6-2 and wrapped up victory in two hours and 23 minutes.

The 2010 Rome semi-finalist, who converted five of the 16 break points he earned against the Briton, will meet fifth seed Dominic Thiem in the second round.

In the women’s draw, Johanna Konta eased her way into the second round with a straight-sets victory over Alison Riske.

The British number one needed less than 90 minutes to beat the American 6-4 6-1 in Rome.

She will now face another American, seventh seed Sloane Stephens, in the second round.

Back in the men’s draw and Dan Evans was beaten in three sets by Casper Ruud to follow Edmund in exiting at the first-round stage.

Evans, who had impressed against Dusan Lajovic to qualify for the event in Rome, dominated the second set but eventually slipped to a 7-5 0-6 6-3 loss to Denmark’s Ruud.