Great Britain’s Dan Evans made an impressive start to his Queen’s tournament by beating world number 13 Frances Tiafoe 7-5 6-2 to reach the last 16.
The victory was Evans’ first against a top-20 player since since he defeated world number 12 Alex de Minaur at the 2023 Davis Cup.
Evans is looking to rebuild his ranking, having dropped from a career-high 21st in the world a couple of years ago to 199th.
Given a wildcard entry at Queen’s he was handed a tough start against American Tiafoe, who reached the quarter-finals of the French Open this year.
But Tiafoe has often struggled on grass and Evans took full advantage on a hot day in west London, playing some of his best tennis in years to claim an impressive straight-set win.
He made an encouraging start to this match, fending off a break point before securing the break himself at 3-3.
Tiafoe broke back immediately when Evans overcooked his forehand and momentum appeared to swing the American’s way in a 10-minute spell where his opponent had little answer to him.
But Evans, encouraged by the home crowd, dug in and battled from 5-4 down to secure a second break before closing out the set.
The momentum was now with Evans and a five-game winning streak put him 2-0 up at the start of the second set.
Evans got a stroke of luck at 3-1 up when his forehand clipped the net cord to drop over and secure a double break.
From then on he closed out the match before receiving a standing ovation from the crowd as he sealed his place in the next round.
