Frances Tiafoe was unexpectedly eliminated from the Queen’s tournament after a straight-sets loss to British wildcard Dan Evans, held at the Andy Murray Arena. The match took place recently and saw Evans, ranked 199th in the world, defeat the world number 13 American 7-5, 6-2 in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
Evans, who received a wildcard entry, has previous success at Queen’s, having reached the quarter-finals in 2021 before exiting against Matteo Berrettini. His strong performance this time exceeded expectations given his recent form and ranking.
Expert commentary highlights Evans’ tactical dominance
John Lloyd, former Australian Open finalist, analysed the upset on BBC, praising Evans’ tactical approach and execution. Lloyd remarked that Evans
“took apart Tiafoe with the slice backhands and then that big forehand,”
denying Tiafoe any easy points throughout the match.
Lloyd emphasized Evans’ consistent retrieval of difficult shots and his impressive footwork. Despite Evans’ limited recent match experience at higher levels, his performance resembled that of a top 50 player or better.
The veteran commentator also pointed out that Tiafoe’s lack of grass-court experience against Evans was a factor, with the slice backhand proving especially effective on the surface. This shot setup opportunities for Evans’ penetrating forehands, and his serving further strengthened his game.
Regarding Tiafoe’s mindset late in the match, Lloyd noted that
“Tiafoe, even though he has a winning record against him of 6-3, he has never played him on grass,”
and “Tiafoe had mentally tapped out” during the final games.
“He just did not know any way to get through the defence. It was so solid his movement.”
—John Lloyd, former Australian Open finalist
Continued struggles for Tiafoe as 2025 season unfolds
Frances Tiafoe’s quest for a title this year remains unfulfilled, with his only final appearance occurring in Houston where he was defeated by fellow American Jenson Brooksby. His strongest showing in a major event came at the French Open, reaching the quarter-finals despite a largely disappointing clay season.
Outside of these results, Tiafoe has found difficulty progressing beyond early rounds in 2025, including at Queen’s. The repeated early exits highlight the challenges he faces in raising his grass-court form ahead of Wimbledon.
As the world number 13 prepares for upcoming tournaments, improvements on grass will be essential if he aims to extend his runs at prestigious events and capture his first title of the year.