LONDON — British wild card Dan Evans upset world No. 13 Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 6-2 on Monday for his first win at Queen’s Membership since 2021.
Backhand slices and fast internet reflexes underpinned No. 199 Evans’ second-ever top-20 win on grass. The primary was at Wimbledon in 2019.
“I nonetheless believed I’ve acquired that tennis in me and I nonetheless consider I can do good issues inside the highest 100. However believing it and it occurring is so much totally different,” Evans mentioned. “You understand how some days you suppose, ‘Are you deluded, are you nuts, have you ever nonetheless acquired it, nonetheless acquired it in your legs?’ Right this moment confirmed I nonetheless have a bit left.”
Different first-round winners included fourth-seeded Holger Rune and eighth-seeded Jakub Mensik in his Queen’s debut. The 19-year-old Czech hit 20 aces whereas beating former finalist Cameron Norrie 7-6 (6), 1-6, 6-1.
Mensik subsequent faces Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, a three-set comeback winner over Nuno Borges of Portugal, whereas Rune lined up Mackenzie McDonald of the U.S., who ousted Gael Monfils of France 6-4, 6-4.
The highest two seeds are Wimbledon and French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, and Taylor Fritz, who received Stuttgart on Sunday for his fourth title on grass.
