British Davis Cup hero Dan Evans admits the return of Andy Murray means he is facing the axe for his country’s next tie despite an epic performance in their victory over Russia.
Britain, playing without world No 2 Murray, battled back from 2-0 down to beat Russia 3-2 at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on Sunday, with Evans, ranked 325 in the world, producing the best match of his life to crush world number 80 Evgeny Donskoy 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 in the deciding rubber.
In Murray’s absence, Evans has won three Davis Cup rubbers against players ranked much higher than himself.
But Britain’s first Davis Cup victory from 2-0 down since 1930 means Leon Smith’s side go forward to a World Group play-off in September with the chance to return to the elite group of 16 nations.
US Open and Olympic champion Murray has committed to playing in the tie, which could pit Britain against the likes of Spain, Switzerland, Germany or Australia.
And that means Smith will have to choose between Evans and James Ward, whose come-from-behind five-set win over Tursunov gave his teammate the opportunity to clinch the tie.
Evans knows he could well be the man to miss out and he said: “Dropping people in any sport is hard. I’m grateful to Leon for having that difficult conversation (when he has been left out in the past).
“This time it worked but next time, if I’m not playing well, then that conversation might come to me and that’s fine.”
