Davis Cup: Britain 1-1 with Australia after wins for Murray and Tomic
Bernard Tomic defeated Dan Evans in four sets to draw Australia level with Britain at 1-1 in their Davis Cup semifinal on Friday, after Andy Murray had put the hosts in front.
Murray brushed aside Thanasi Kokkinakis with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 win, but a surprise decision to pick the 300th-ranked Evans for the second match failed to deliver as Tomic came through for a 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (4), 6-4 victory.
Defeat for Evans means that Murray might now line up alongside his brother Jamie for the doubles on Saturday against Samuel Groth and Lleyton Hewitt at Glasgow's Emirates Arena.
Originally, the third-ranked Murray was not expected to play again until Sunday's reverse singles. Jamie Murray is down to play with Dominic Ingot on Saturday.
Evans looked to have turned the tables after taking a hard-fought third set, but Tomic accelerated into a 4-2 lead in the final set before sealing victory and leveling the best-of-five series.
British captain Leon Smith said: ''I feel for Dan. He repaid the faith we had to select him in the first place. He showed the level he's capable of.
''He can hold his head up very high.''
Argentina plays Belgium in the other semifinal, with the final being held Nov. 27-29.
Murray, who served 10 aces to Kokkinakis' two, played an aggressive game that was simply too much to handle for the 19-year-old Australian, who is ranked 72nd.
Despite Kokkinakis rescuing several break points, Murray made the decisive break for 4-2 in the first set and didn't look back, finishing the set off with an ace.
Murray was looking fresh after his U.S. Open fourth-round exit allowed him several days off, and he stepped up another gear in the second set, allowing his opponent just five points in a 25-minute demolition.
The third-ranked Scot wrapped up the match by breaking with a backhand cross-court winner.
''It's fantastic,'' Murray said on court. ''A huge match to start off the tie and I'm glad I managed to put on a performance. The crowd was fantastic from the first point to the last.''
''Representing your country is a proud moment, I love it, and I always perform my best when I'm here for my country,'' Murray said. ''Hopefully I can do the same for the rest of the weekend.''
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This story has been corrected to show Murray broke for a 4-2 lead in the first set, not 5-3.
