Frances Tiafoe fell to a first round exit at Queen's Club on Monday as veteran Brit Dan Evans rolled back the years, while fourth seed Holger Rune eased through.
Evans, who needed a wildcard for his place in the draw after sliding to 199 in the world rankings, proved too good for the seventh seed in a 7-5, 6-2 win.
"I still believed I've got that tennis in me and I still believe I can do good things inside the top 100. But believing it and it happening is a lot different," said Evans after winning the first men's match on the newly-christened Andy Murray Arena.
Home heroics! 💪🇬🇧
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 16, 2025
Dan Evans downs No.7 seed Tiafoe 7-5, 6-2 on Andy Murray Arena!@QueensTennis | #HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/urATevBMME
The 35-year-old was a fitting victor as he had partnered Murray in his final match before retirement in the men's doubles at the Paris Olympics.
"A few people mentioned it, that I had finished with him in his last match and then played the men's event, the first match," added Evans.
"It was pretty cool to do that."
Rune had no such problems as the Dane eased into his grass court season with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Australian lucky loser Christopher O'Connell.
Flying front runner 🏃♂️🆙@holgerrune2003 | @QueensTennis | #HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/D7GsFJcPCy
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 16, 2025
British No 2 Jacob Fearnley joined Evans in round two after he made short work of Australia's Alex Bolt with a 6-2 6-4 victory.
Debut W ✅@jakefearnley01 delivers on a big stage yet again 6-2, 6-4 over Bolt@QueensTennis | #HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/dZSXKONUib
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 16, 2025
But there was disappointment for another home favourite in Cameron Norrie, who was beaten 7-6 (8/6) 1-6 6-1 by Czech rising star Jakub Mensik.
2021 - @jackdraper0
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 16, 2025
2025 - @mensik_jakub_
Mensik is the 2nd teenager to win at Queen’s Club this decade after 7-6(6), 1-6, 6-1 🆚 Norrie@QueensTennis | #HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/IGQJA29tUZ
The 19-year-old, who beat Novak Djokovic to win the Miami Masters in March, next faces Roberto Bautista Agut, who edged out Nuno Borges 6-7 (6/8), 7-5, 6-4.
Qualifier Mackenzie McDonald got the better of 38-year-old Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-4.
Carlos Alcaraz plays for the first time since his remarkable French Open victory over Jannik Sinner on Tuesday when he begins his quest for a second title at Queen's against fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.