Vienna 2023: Frances Tiafoe vs Dan Evans preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Erste Bank Open
Match Details
Fixture: (7) Frances Tiafoe vs Dan Evans
Date: October 24, 2023
Tournament: Erste Bank Open 2023
Round: First round (Round of 32)
Venue: Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
Category: ATP 500
Surface: Indoor hardcourt
Prize money: €2,409,835
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | Canada - TSN | UK - Amazon Prime
Frances Tiafoe vs Dan Evans preview
Seventh seed Frances Tiafoe will take on Dan Evans in the first round of the 2023 Erste Bank Open.
Tiafoe kicked off the new season by winning the United Cup with his fellow Americans. He won all five of his singles ties as well, but his unbeaten ways came to an end in the third round of the Australian Open. He continued to perform well after that and made it to the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters.
Tiafoe then won his first title in over five years at the ATP 250 in Houston. The rest of his clay swing didn't go as well and concluded with a third round exit from the French Open. He bagged his second title of the season in Stuttgart and even saved a championship point in the final.
Since then, Tiafoe's results have been quite underwhelming, aside from a quarterfinal run at the US Open. Following his loss to Ben Shelton in New York, he hasn't won a match and is currently on a five-match losing streak.
A couple of good results have been the highlight of Evans' year so far. A semifinal appearance in Barcelona was his best performance until he won the Citi Open in August out of nowhere.
Evans carried some of that momentum to reach the third round of the US Open after that. He next won both of his Davis Cup ties, but exited his next couple of tournaments without winning a match. The Brit then made it to the third round in Shanghai, but fell at the first hurdle in Stockholm earlier this week.
Frances Tiafoe vs Dan Evans head-to-head
Tiafoe leads Evans 4-3 in the head-to-head. The Brit won their previous encounter at the 2023 Citi Open in straight sets.
Frances Tiafoe vs Dan Evans odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Frances Tiafoe vs Dan Evans prediction
Tiafoe's form has been quite dire over the past few weeks, while Evans has been marginally better. The two are familiar rivals, having played seven matches against each other over the years.
Evans held the upper hand early on as he led 2-1 in the match-up. Tiafoe then won their next three meetings to take a 4-2 lead. The Brit came out on top in their most recent battle, which took place during his title-winning run at the Citi Open.
Evans hit his stride during that week and dismissed Tiafoe with relative ease. While it won't be that easy this time, the American's poor string of results doesn't bode too well for his chances.
Evans' brand of counterpunching can certainly be a headache to deal with. Tiafoe could find himself in trouble if his serve and forehand combo aren't in perfect sync. The Brit has given a better account of himself in recent weeks and as such will be favored to win this match.
Pick: Dan Evans to win in three sets.