Dan Evans makes stunning Davis Cup return with five-set win over Denis Istomin

Dan Evans made a spectacular return to Davis Cup action with a breathless five-set victory over Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.

Evans, in Great Britain colours for the first time in over a year following a 12-month drugs ban, had not even played a fifth set since September 2016.

The 28-year-old looked down and out when Istomin, the world number 60, raced away with the third 6-0 to take a 2-1 lead.

But gutsy Evans, roared on by a raucous Glasgow crowd, somehow fought back to win 7-6 (7/4) 4-6 0-6 6-4 7-5.

Evans, who returned to competition in April after serving his suspension for testing positive for cocaine, only got the call to play for his country in the absence of Andy Murray and Kyle Edmund.

And this was almost Murray-esque in its drama, a rollercoaster of a battle and Davis Cup tennis at its finest, even though the change in the competition's format next year means this tie is not a relegation decider.

The revamp into a World Cup-style tournament also means that the Emirates Arena, the scene of so many memorable Great Britain victories in recent years, may not host it again for some time.

On this evidence that is a shame, and was not lost on Scot Murray, who sent a good luck message which was played on the big screen, saying: "Unfortunately this might be the last time we get to play in Glasgow as a team, I hope you all make the most of it."

Evans certainly did that, his groundstrokes and some cute drop shots paying off as he took a first set which lasted exactly an hour.

An early break in the second raised hopes of a straightforward victory, but Istomin is a seasoned Davis Cup campaigner playing in his 75th match in the competition.

The bespectacled 32-year-old also has a victory over Novak Djokovic, in five sets at last year's Australian Open, to his name.

Having dropped serve for 2-1 Evans went on to put Istomin under huge pressure but could not convert one of the seven subsequent break points he forced.

Then, at 4-4, the Evans serve – which at one stage had hit 23 unanswered points – let him down badly: two double-faults handing Istomin the vital break.

Three games in a row for Istomin quickly became nine as he raced through the third, yet Evans stopped the rot by holding the opening game of the fourth and then matched Istomin stroke for stroke before breaking to love in the 10th game.

Breaks were exchanged twice early in the fifth and, as the clock ticked past four hours, Evans made a sixth match point count to seal a memorable win.

"It's good to be back, especially here in Glasgow" he said. "We've had so many good ties and for that to maybe be the last one is pretty fitting for me.

"It's been tough without doubt. You keep yourself going for days like today. I  might not get in the team next time so I'll have to remember this one."

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