DAN EVANS denied Denis Shapovalov his teenage kicks to give Great Britain the perfect start against Canada.
Denis tried to be a menace but Evans was too clever and too consistent for the 17-year-old junior Wimbledon champion in Ottawa.
The Brit from Brum showed why he is at a career-high ranking of world No 45 with a commanding and at times brilliant performance, winning 6-3 6-3 6-4 in less than two hours.
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With Canadian No 1 Milos Raonic injured, Shapovalov was asked to play the first live Davis Cup rubber of his young life.
And Evans, Team GB’s No 1 in the absence of Andy Murray, used all his experience and craft to stop the powerful left-hander from springing an upset.
Evans broke his opponent in the opening game and again in the ninth to take the first set in just over half an hour.
A single break of serve in the second, in the sixth game, was enough to put Britain 2-0 up as Evans produced moments of inspiration when he needed to and Shapovalov missed too many balls.
The young Canadian made Evans work harder for the third set, but the Brit broke serve in the ninth game and wrapped up the match in an hour and 50 minutes.
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KYLE EDMUND stumbled badly against injured opponent Vasek Pospisil to leave Britain’s Davis Cup tie on a knife-edge.
Edmund seemed to lose focus when the Canadian started to have problems with his left leg in the first set and slipped to a disappointing defeat.
Pospisil, Canada’s No 1 in the absence of the injured Milos Raonic, first had treatment after the fifth game and at times seemed unable to chase down balls.
But the former top 30 player and Wimbledon quarter finalist dug deep to win 6-4 6-1 7-6.
The question now is whether Pospisil, a very good doubles player, will be fit to partner Daniel Nestor against Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot today in what is likely to be a vital rubber.
Edmund seemed to be gaining the upper hand in the opening set and had break points chances.
But serving at 4-5, he faced two set points and could not save the second.
Then Pospisil raced through the second set as Edmund made error after error.
Edmund had no answers on the quick Ottawa court which was helping Pospisil to make the most of his big serve and shorten the points.
The Brit rallied in the third set but could not make inroads against the Pospisil serve and had to settle for a tiebreak.
Pospisil won in 7-3 to complete a fine victory.
The Canadian has slipped to No 133 in the world after losing in the first round at 14 tournaments in 2016, but looked more like his old self in this victory.
World No 47 Edmund enjoyed a fine year, including a memorable performance in Britain’s Davis Cup quarter final win in Serbia.
But he was well below his best against Pospisil and will need to play much better, if he is required for a deciding rubber.
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