Dan Evans beats Denis Istomin in epic Davis Cup opener
:focal(140x151:142x149)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2020/04/28/2811917-58003384-310-310.png)
Updated 14/09/2018 at 17:12 GMT
Dan Evans beat Denis Istomin 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 0-6 6-4 7-5 in an epic match to win Great Britain's opening Davis Cup match against Uzbekistan.
Dan Evans of Great Britain celebrates after winning the fourth set in his match against Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan during day one of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group single's play-off between Great Britain and Uzbekistan at Emirates Arena on Sept
Image credit: Getty Images
Evans, 28, was playing his first Davis Cup match since his 12-month drug suspension .
The GB star took the opener in a tie break but was broken twice in the second as world number 60 Istomin levelled the match.
Istomin then went ahead as he ruthlessly bageled Evans in the third.
However, roared on by the Glasgow crowd, Evans battled back and found the break he needed in the final game of the fourth set to take it to a decider.
A thrilling final set saw both players exchange two breaks before a truly epic 12th game.
Istomin played some brilliant tennis to save five match points but Evans got over the line at the sixth attempt as the emotion came pouring out of him.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/09/14/2418718-50273130-2560-1440.jpg)
Dan Evans of Great Britain reacts in his match against Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan during day one of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group single's play-off between Great Britain and Uzbekistan at Emirates Arena on September 14, 2018 in Glasgow, Scotla
Image credit: Getty Images
"It's good to be back, especially here in Glasgow. We've had so many good ties here. To play that match here, in what might be the last tie here, is pretty fitting, so thank you everyone for that." Evans said on court afterwards.
"It's been tough but everybody who supported me, who has been right behind me from the time I started back, I can only thank them. Days like today don't come around very often.
Who knows, I may not get in the team next time, so I have to remember this and enjoy it.
"It's been a long road back and I'm still going. Days like today make it a lot easier. I can't wait to come and watch Cam now, get a bit of treatment and come out and get loud for Cam."
Cameron Norrie will face Jurabek Karimov in the second singles game on Friday.
With the re-vamp to the Davis Cup this tie is no longer about relegation but instead over who will get seeding in the new competition in February.
Scan me
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement