Frances Tiafoe was eliminated in the first round at Queen’s Club on Monday as veteran Brit Dan Evans turned back the clock, while fourth seed Holger Rune advanced smoothly. Evans, who required a wildcard for his place in the draw after slipping to 199 in the world rankings, proved too strong for the seventh seed with a 7-5, 6-2 victory. “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-named Andy Murray Arena. The 35-year-old was an appropriate winner 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 encountered no difficulties as the Dane began his grass court season with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Australian lucky loser Christopher O’Connell. British number two Jacob Fearnley joined Evans in the second round after he easily defeated Australia’s Alex Bolt with a 6-2, 6-4 win. However, another home favourite, Cameron Norrie, faced disappointment as he was beaten 7-6 (8/6), 1-6, 6-1 by Czech rising star Jakub Mensik. The 19-year-old, who defeated Novak Djokovic to win the Miami Masters in March, will next face Roberto Bautista Agut, who narrowly defeated Nuno Borges 6-7 (6/8), 7-5, 6-4. Qualifier Mackenzie McDonald overcame 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. With AFP Inputs