Davis Cup 2024: Dan Evans puts Great Britain ahead against Finland

As the post-Andy Murray era begins, Evans remains a reassuring presence for Britain in the men’s team event.

Evans has dropped to outside the world’s 150 in recent months but, in front of a three-quarters full Manchester Arena, demonstrated why he remains so important to Smith’s squad.

Those watching would have been forgiven for thinking Evans would breeze past the unheralded Vasa, who plies most of his trade far away from the Grand Slam tournaments on the bottom-rung Futures Tour.

However, the 27-year-old Vasa surprised the crowd – if not Evans – by playing well above his ranking.

Booming first serves of above 130mph were backed up by speedy second serves, while he made Evans ask questions from the baseline in patient rallies.

Evans, who reached the US Open third round, had to fight off two break points in the first game of the match before starting to take control and apply severe pressure.

A break point was saved by Vasa in the eighth game and Evans could not convert three set points on his opponent’s serve later in the set.

But his experience and nous told in the tie-break, playing with a touch more aggression to bring up four set points and pressure Vasa into a double fault on the third.

Once he had a firm foothold, Evans accelerated quickly in the second set and moved a double break ahead before serving out a slow-burning victory.

“It was a difficult match; he played great at the start. I knew he would come out and play aggressive,” said Evans.

“I found it tough for a long time to get the ball-striking and I started to play better in the second and better at the end.”