Dan Evans reproduces form of old to beat Frances Tiafoe at Queen's Club

Yahoo7 days ago

Dan Evans opened up the men's tournament at Queen's Club with his biggest win for more than two years, toppling Frances Tiafoe – the seventh seed and world No 13 – 7-5, 6-2 to reach the second round.
The victory marks Evans's first win against a top-20 opponent since he defeated Alex de Minaur in the Davis Cup finals in 2023 and a positive step forward after an extremely difficult period in the final stretch of his career.
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Related: Tatjana Maria outwits Anisimova to complete Queen's Club fairytale aged 37
Having spent five consecutive years inside the top 100, the 35-year-old is attempting to re-establish himself at the top levels of the game after falling down the rankings in August last year. Evans scaled as high as No 21 less than two years ago but he now sits at No 199 in the ATP rankings. He received a wildcard to compete at Queen's Club and he will also need a wildcard in order to compete in the main draw at Wimbledon in two weeks' time.
'It's always amazing to play here,' he said. 'I didn't know he was in the top 20, if I'm honest with you. I knew he was very good. I was really just 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 on the court and enjoy it.'
Last month, Evans's ranking of No 215 marked his lowest position since 2018. He has spent most of the past 10 months competing on the ATP Challenger tour and he has reached just one quarter-final during this period. As he has struggled to build any momentum, even losing against multiple players ranked outside the top 350, his difficulties have naturally generated ample doubts about his future in the sport.
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'It has been a pretty long year so far, I've been playing the lower tournaments and, let's be honest, this is why I'm still hanging around to get back on the grass and try and get some wins,' Evans said.
Evans put together a spectacular match on Monday on the grass, a surface to which his distinct game remains so well suited. Evans bamboozled his American opponent throughout the match with his backhand slice, struck his forehand brilliantly and served well in the decisive moments.
During his 95 minutes on court, Evans showed he is still capable of performing at the highest level on a good day, in favourable conditions and before a home crowd that provided him with further inspiration. He will now try to use the confidence he has gained from such an impressive performance to replicate this level on a more consistent basis.

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Yahoo

29 minutes ago

Yahoo

Tomic shocks with two-year first

As 16 Australians began their Wimbledon qualifying quest, forgotten man Bernard Tomic achieved a rare feat, beating a player inside the top 100 for the first time in two years to earn his place in an ATP main draw at a grass-court event in Spain. It's the first time since the 2021 Australian Open that Tomic, now down at 243 in the rankings, has booked a place in a tour-level event. The 32-year-old, who has been traversing the world playing lower level and Challenger events in his bid to get back to the top, defeated world No.77 Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 at the grass court Mallorca Championships. It set up a clash with fellow Aussie, Rinky Hijikata, who is already qualified for the main draw at Wimbledon, one of eight men and five women locked in for the year's third grand slam. The Mallorca event is among a swath of grass-court events where Australians already qualified for Wimbledon are rounding out their preparations. James Duckworth beat British wildcard Johannus Monday 6-4 6-2 and Aleksandar Vukic downed American Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-3 to book their places in the Eastbourne International men's main draw. Kim Birrell also made it through Eastbourne qualifying to join Australian No. 1 Daria Kasatkina, and teen star and Maya Joint in the women's event. Former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Ajla Tomljanovic also took a walkover win over Germany's Eva Lys, to make it into the Bad Homburg WTA main draw. AUSTRALIANS QUALIFIED FOR WIMBLEDON Men's singles: Alex de Minaur Alexei Popyrin Jordan Thompson Aleksandar Vukic Rinky Hijikata Chris O'Connell Adam Walton James Duckworth Women's singles Daria Kasatkina Kimberly Birrell Maya Joint Ajla Tomljanovic Olivia Gadecki

2025 Rothesay International Eastbourne: Evans [170th] vs. Kecmanovic [49th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview

USA Today

an hour ago

USA Today

2025 Rothesay International Eastbourne: Evans [170th] vs. Kecmanovic [49th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview

In a match slated for Monday, Miomir Kecmanovic (No. 49 in rankings) will take on Daniel Evans (No. 170) in the Round of 32 at the Rothesay International Eastbourne. Kecmanovic is favored (-165) to get to the Round of 16 compared to the underdog Evans (+130). Tennis odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Monday at 6:37 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Daniel Evans vs. Miomir Kecmanovic matchup info Watch the Tennis Channel and more sports on Fubo! Evans vs. Kecmanovic Prediction Based on the implied probility from the moneyline, Evans has a 62.3% to win. Evans vs. Kecmanovic Betting Odds Evans vs. Kecmanovic matchup performance & stats

Gold Cup: USA beats Haiti to stay unbeaten, coach wowed by Tillman

UPI

2 hours ago

Gold Cup: USA beats Haiti to stay unbeaten, coach wowed by Tillman

American midfielder Malik Tillman scored in the 10th minute of a win over Haiti in the Gold Cup group stage Sunday in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Dustin Safranek/EPA-EFE June 23 (UPI) -- Malik Tillman drew first blood before Patrick Agyemang played hero with a 75th minute game-winner to lead the United States Men's National Team past Haiti, securing a perfect 3-0 record in the Gold Cup group stage. Brenden Aaronson and John Tolkin logged assists in the 2-1 victory Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Americans outshot the Haitians 18-8, dominated possession 65% to 34.2% and held a 606-310 edge in passes. "Overall it was a good performance," U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said. "I think we were not a clinic with the chances that we had. I think we should have scored more." Pochettino, who is now 8-5 as coach of the Americans, said his players overcame doubt from an early error to secure the win and group-stage crown. That miscue came in the 19th minute, when a turnover from goalie Matt Freese led to an immediate equalizer. "We scored and then had an accident that we conceded a goal," Pochettino said. "I think that created a little bit of doubt in us. I think it was tough to deal with that. But I think overall the performance was good in the first half. "The second half was a little bit better." The Americans' initial attack was denied during the game's first scoring sequence. Aaronson eventually regained control of the ball after his first shot was denied. The veteran winger then got the ball on his right foot and sliced a cross toward the far post. Tillman hovered into the area and finished the play with a header, which beat Haitian goalie Johny Placide. The 10th-minute score was the third of the tournament for the American center midfielder. "Malik, it is difficult to define him," Pochettino said of Tillman. "What a player that is showing all of his talent and capacity. .... What a talented player. So pleased with him. "He is a lovely guy. He started to find himself. When he can show it, it is welcome. I think the team is much better when he is involved in the game." The elation from the Tillman score lasted less than nine minutes, with the Haitians capitalizing on the Americans' 19th-minute error for their equalizer. Center back Tim Ream started that sequence when he passed back to Freese. The American goalie then mishit a short pass to his left, kicking the ball directly to Haitian winger Louicius Don Deedson. Louicius proceeded to finish with a left-footed shot just inside the far post. The Americans manufactured several more chances, but went into the second half tied with their visitors. They appeared to earn another lead in the 64th minute, but that score was negated because Tillman hit the ball into the net with his arm. Agyemang eventually netted the game-winner by beating Placide in the 75th minute. Tolkin sparked that score with a pass from behind midfield. Agyemang tracked down the long feed from the American left back, tapped the ball around Placide at the top of the box and used his left boot to calmly ground a shot into the right side of the net. The American defense held up over the remainder of regulation to secure the group-stage title. The U.S. men will take on Costa Rica in a Gold Cup quarterfinal at 7 p.m. EDT Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The winner will play in a semifinal at 6 p.m. July 2 in St. Louis. The Gold Cup final will be held at 6 p.m. July 6 in Houston.