Evans loses as Britain trail in Davis Cup tie

Great Britain will person to conflict backmost to scope nan Davis Cup Final past 8 astatine nan earliest opportunity aft Dan Evans mislaid their opening lucifer against Argentina.

In a best-of-three tie, Evans was beaten 6-2 7-5 by Tomas Martin Etcheverry successful Manchester.

US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper, who has returned to nan squad aft being rested for Wednesday's triumph complete Finland, plays Francisco Cerundolo successful nan 2nd singles match.

If Draper wins, nan necktie will spell down to a deciding doubles match.

Britain cognize they will advancement to nan quarter-finals - played successful November astatine nan 'Final Eight' arena successful Malaga - if they hit Argentina connected nan Manchester Arena difficult court.

Canada would besides spell done aft nan 2022 Davis Cup champions hit Argentina and Finland successful their opening 2 ties.

If Britain suffer to Argentina, nan group is blown wide unfastened and immoderate of nan 4 nations could still decorativeness successful nan apical two.

Back connected location turf pursuing his exploits successful New York, Draper has been nan centre of attraction successful Manchester - moreover without playing.

Now, aft being nan talk of nan municipality and receiving ovations erstwhile he has been introduced to nan crowd earlier nan ties, nan 22-year-old British number 1 has nan chance to make an important effect connected nan court.

Draper must hit Cerundolo, a clay-court master who is classed 31st successful nan world, to support Britain's hopes of clinching their spot connected Friday pinch 2 victories from 2 alive.

Evans, 34, is nan astir knowledgeable subordinate successful a British squad which has a caller look pursuing nan status of Andy Murray and Cameron Norrie's absence pinch an limb injury.

On nan time wherever he surpassed Mike Sangster to spell 2nd successful nan British all-time database of Davis Cup ties played, Evans was near to rue not being capable to person his early chances against Etcheverry.

A gruelling 4th game, wherever Evans continued to patiently probe pinch nan backhand slice, saw Etcheverry desperately hanging connected arsenic Evans created 4 break points.

Surviving each of them proved pivotal successful nan match.

Sensing a state to onslaught successful nan 5th game, Etcheverry quickly collapsed to return nan upwind retired of Evans' sails and rattled disconnected nan last 3 games for nan opening set.

It has been a reliable twelvemonth for Evans, who has dropped retired of nan world's 150, and his assurance dipped dramatically.

Little gets nan champion retired of Evans for illustration nan Davis Cup, however, and he showed trademark tenacity to reset successful nan 2nd set.

Rediscovering his service helped arsenic nan brace traded holds, but nan vexation and fragility reappeared arsenic he crucially mislaid service successful nan 11th game.

More guidance came arsenic Evans fought disconnected 5 lucifer points - and created 3 break points - earlier a relieved Etcheverry yet served retired victory.