It was always going to be a tough task and so it transpired – the GB Team will not be playing in the November’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain following the defeat in Group D 2-1.
I love competing for my country. I’ve loved every minute of it but sometimes you’ve got to know when to leave Dan Evans
The team, despite home support in the AO Arena in Manchester, were defeated 2-1 by Canada who ended the four team group stages without a loss, with Argentina in second place. Those two progress to Malaga while Britain and Finland regroup to next year’s campaign.
The writing was on the wall when Dan Evans lost the first rubber to Denis Shapovalov 6-0 7-5, a result which decided the tie or Britain needed to win all three rubbers to get into a qualifying position making the Jack Draper and the doubles rubbers dead ones.
The weight of responsibility must have weighed heavily on Evan’s shoulders, and it showed as he came under immediate pressure after losing his opening game allowing Shapovalov, currently ranked 100, to take command. And he did with a vengeance to sweep through the first set 30-minuters, stunning the crowd in the process.
Evans showed his fighting spirit in the second set but he just couldn’t find an answer to Shapovalov’s big serves which kept the Canadian in the driving seat.
Frustration got the better of Evans as he threw his racket after a wayward shot, and a difficult day was complete when Shapovalov secured a decisive break in the final game of the second set.
Denis Shapovalov celebrates with his team mates
(Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Now with no hope of qualifying, Draper took to the court to try and salvage some pride for the home nation but despite some strong play from the Briton ranked 20, he couldn’t secure a point going down 7-6(8) 7-5 to the former top-tenner Felix Auger Aliassime.
In the end the only point came from the doubles courtesy of doubles Henry Patten and Neal Skupski who defeated Gabriel Diallo and Alexis Galameau 7-6(4) 6-4.
The loss hit the 34-year-old Evans hardest and has left him, after 28 Davis Cup ties, to think of his future.
“I’ve thought about it long and hard. I’ll have to think a little more,” the 34-year-old Evans told BBC Sport.
“I love competing for my country. I’ve loved every minute of it but sometimes, you’ve got to know when to leave.
“It will be a difficult decision but sometimes it’s nice to give somebody else the opportunity and watch from afar.”
Evans has dropped to 178th in the world rankings after opting to miss some tournaments this year to focus on playing doubles at the Paris Olympics with Andy Murray.
“His ranking has gone down so he’s got a lot of things to consider – what is best for him right now and what does he need to have a successful year next year,” team captain Leon Smith said.
“Whatever happens, he’s been an amazing servant for us.”
Team Canada , the 2022 champions, on the day proved too strong for GB
(Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images for ITF)
