Frances Tiafoe told he looked as if he ‘mentally tapped out’ as he suffers shock defeat at Queen’s

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Frances Tiafoe has crashed out of Queen’s in the first round, after losing to home hope Dan Evans in straight sets.

Evans, who is currently ranked 199th in the world, beat Tiafoe 7-5, 6-2, in front of a joyous British crowd at the Andy Murray Arena.

The 35-year-old was granted a wildcard at the tournament, where he made the quarter-finals in 2021 before bowing out to Matteo Berrettini.

Analysing the shocking upset for the American, former Australian Open finalist John Lloyd said Tiafoe was ‘taken apart’ by Evans.

John Lloyd’s assessment of Frances Tiafoe’s loss to Dan Evans

Speaking on BBC, Lloyd said: “He was tremendous. The way that he took apart Tiafoe with the slice backhands and then that big forehand, he didn’t give Tiafoe any easy points.

“The amount of balls he kept getting back in awkward positions for someone who has played as few matches as Dan Evans has, it really was a top 50 performance or even better than that.

“I was so surprised at how well he played considering he hasn’t been at that standard playing challengers, he was magnificent today.

“He made so many returns of serve, and his footwork was so good. And Tiafoe, even though he has a winning record against him of 6-3, he has never played him on grass, and the slice backhand on the grass was, for me, the killer shot.

“It set him up for the big forehands to come in through, and he served well as well. His whole game was spectacular.

“Tiafoe is used to dominating rallies and he couldn’t. You could see the last two games Tiafoe had mentally tapped out.

“He just did not know any way to get through the defence. It was so solid his movement.”

Frances Tiafoe’s pursuit of a title in 2025 continues

Tiafoe is yet to win a title this season and has only made one final so far in 2025, which came in Houston, where he ultimately lost to compatriot Jenson Brooksby.

His second-best result of the year was at the French Open, where, after a largely disappointing clay swing, he made it to the quarter-finals in Paris.

Aside from that, Tiafoe has not managed to win more than two matches at a tournament this year.

His loss at Queen’s marks yet another early exit, and the world number 13 will need to make some big improvements on grass in hopes of making a deep run at Wimbledon.