GB's Davis Cup Finals hopes over after Evans loss

Great Britain's Davis Cup Finals hopes are complete aft Dan Evans fell to a dense conclusion by Denis Shapovalov successful their first lucifer against Canada.

Leon Smith's squad needed to hit Canada 3-0 successful Manchester to advancement to November's knockout stages successful Malaga.

But their destiny was sealed early connected Sunday, pinch Evans' 6-0 7-5 conclusion meaning Britain will decorativeness extracurricular of nan apical 2 successful Group D.

Canada, nan 2022 champions, beforehand on pinch Argentina, who booked their spot successful nan 'Final Eight' pinch a 3-0 triumph complete Finland connected Saturday.

British number 1 Jack Draper will look Felix Auger-Aliassime successful nan 2nd singles match, while Evans is expected to return alongside Neal Skupski successful nan doubles to complete nan tie.

Playing successful beforehand of a 15,000-strong crowd astatine Mancester Arena, Shapovalov swept done nan first group successful 25 minutes, pinch Evans winning conscionable 9 points.

The Briton yet sewage connected nan scoreboard erstwhile he held early successful nan 2nd set, but he grounded to make nan astir of 2 break points astatine 4-4.

Shapovalov was capable to backmost up a ascendant first group erstwhile he struck nan decisive rustle astatine 6-5 to return his federation to nan knockout stages, which will return spot betwixt 19-24 November.

The 25-year-old Canadian, who was classed arsenic precocious arsenic 10 successful nan world aft a tally to nan Wimbledon semi-finals successful 2021, has struggled pinch a knee wounded complete nan past year.

"Sometimes 6-0 is nan worst lead successful tennis. You can't amended from that first set," Shapovalov said aft wrapping up triumph successful 1 hr and 22 minutes.

"I'm highly happy pinch nan measurement I was capable to serve. I played really good and conscionable happy I was capable to capitalise connected my chances today."