HSBC Championships 2025: Dan Evans knocks out seventh seed Frances Tiafoe in Queen’s Club opener
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Dan Evans clinched a statement win on his return to the HSBC Championships after he knocked out seventh seed Frances Tiafoe on the first match of this year’s ATP 500 event.
Evans needed just an hour and 36 minutes to beat the American 7-5, 6-2, as he secured his spot in the second round.
With the home crowd behind him, Evans put on an impressive showing on the Andy Murray Arena to close out his first win at The Queen’s Club since 2021.
“Thank you to the crowd, they were amazing”, Evans said in his post-match interview. “It’s always amazing to play here, I’m lucky I got the wild card to get out here - it’s been nice to come back.
“I didn’t know he was top 20 if I’m being honest with you - I knew he was very good. I was really trying to focus on playing some good tennis because this year it’s been few and far between.
“Days like today whatever happens this week is why I’ve been carrying on to get out here and put my game out on the court and enjoy it like that."
Evans has dropped down the rankings over the last year, having opted to skip the Washington Open in August 2024 where he was defending champion. Instead he chose to partner Andy Murray at the Paris Olympics, in what was the three-time Grand Slam champion’s final professional tournament of his career.
It feels rather fitting that Evans clinched his first win over a top 20 player since 2023 on the court that has been renamed in honour of his Olympics doubles partner.
“Not just mine, but the whole of British tennis”, Evans said when asked how much Murray has influenced his tennis career. “He’s always got time for everybody and I think it’s really fitting he got an arena named after him - hopefully he’s not watching and hearing me say that.”
The world No.199 will look to extend his stay in West London as he turns his focus to his second round match which will be played against either Brandon Nakashima or Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Heading into his opener at the HSBC Championships, Evans was the clear underdog with the American edging their head-to-head 6-3. However, today marked their first meeting on a grass court and the Brit made a fast start after racking up some recent victories at the Libema Open.
With the scoreboard locked at 3-3 in the first set, Evans made his first move before the American responded immediately to draw back level.
Despite Tiafoe’s attempts to stay close to the Brit, the nerves began to show as he hit a weak backhand into the net to give Evans the opportunity to serve for the set.
The seventh seed threatened the come back as he quickly raced to a 30-15 lead on Evans’ serve, but after the Brit came out on the winning side of an incredible 37-shot rally, he went on to take the set with a classic serve and volley.
Evidently feeling confident on the grass, Evans capitalised on a sluggish Tiafoe, who was contesting his first match on the surface this year.
Evans used his slice to full effect, and Tiafoe couldn’t find the answers as he coughed up a double fault to give the Brit an immediate break in the second before setting up a 4-1 lead.
Stepping up to serve out his first win over Frances Tiafoe since the Washington Open quarter-final in 2023 - Evans raced forwards into the net to hit a sublime volley to lift a packed-out home crowd onto their feet.
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