1 week ago
15
Dan Evans ensured Great Britain's quest to scope the Davis Cup knockout signifier started powerfully with a hard-fought triumph successful their opening necktie against Finland, arsenic Jack Draper was rested.
Evans, 34, won 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 against 703rd-ranked Eero Vasa to enactment the big federation 1-0 up successful the best-of-three Group D necktie successful Manchester connected Wednesday.
With US Open semi-finalist Draper not included, the late-blooming Billy Harris was handed a Davis Cup debut successful the 2nd lucifer of the tie, knowing helium could unafraid triumph for Britain.
British men's fig 1 Draper sat retired this opening necktie pursuing his exploits successful reaching the past 4 successful New York past week.
Draper, 22, arrived successful Manchester connected Tuesday lunchtime and, aft watching him practise, British skipper Leon Smith decided helium needed longer to recover.
Draper could instrumentality for the ties against Argentina and Canada aboriginal this week.
Britain are aiming to apical Group D successful the four-nation circular robin and unafraid a spot successful the Davis Cup Finals past 8 successful Malaga aboriginal this year.
As the post-Andy Murray epoch begins, Evans remains a reassuring beingness for Britain successful the men's squad event.
Evans has dropped to extracurricular the world's 150 successful caller months but, successful beforehand of a three-quarters afloat Manchester Arena, demonstrated wherefore helium remains truthful important to Smith's squad.
Those watching would person been forgiven for reasoning Evans would breeze past the unheralded Vasa, who plies astir of his commercialized acold distant from the Grand Slam tournaments connected the bottom-rung Futures Tour.
However, the 27-year-old Vasa amazed the assemblage - if not Evans - by playing good supra his ranking.
Booming archetypal serves of supra 130mph were backed up by speedy 2nd serves, portion helium made Evans inquire questions from the baseline successful diligent rallies.
Evans, who reached the US Open 3rd round, had to combat disconnected 2 interruption points successful the archetypal crippled of the lucifer earlier starting to instrumentality power and use terrible pressure.
A interruption constituent was saved by Vasa successful the eighth crippled and Evans could not person 3 acceptable points connected his opponent's service aboriginal successful the set.
But his acquisition and nous told successful the tie-break, playing with a interaction much aggression to bring up 4 acceptable points and unit Vasa into a treble responsibility connected the third.
Once helium had a steadfast foothold, Evans accelerated rapidly successful the 2nd acceptable and moved a treble interruption up earlier serving retired a slow-burning victory.
"It was a hard match; helium played large astatine the start. I knew helium would travel retired and play aggressive," said Evans.
"I recovered it pugnacious for a agelong clip to get the ball-striking and I started to play amended successful the 2nd and amended astatine the end."
English (US)