Both captains in the semi-final tie between Great Britain and Argentina had little trouble choosing their key players but had altogether tougher choices when it came to their second.
Leon Smith had two rising Britons on career-high rankings following shining runs at the US Open. Dan Evans, at 53, was playing some of the best tennis of his career this summer, and held match-point against eventual champion Stan Wawrinka in New York before finally losing in the third round.
Kyle Edmund was making big waves with his power game, and reached the fourth round of a Major for the first time in New York after beating No13 Richard Gasquet and No20 John Isner. He also helped Great Britain into the semis with his two singles wins in the Davis Cup quarters in Serbia in July.
Perhaps that was why the 21-year-old Edmund got the nod to take on the Argentine Guido Pella, ranked 49 but as high as 39 earlier this year.
Argentina captain Daniel Orsanic admitted that, despite his current lower ranking, Juan Martin del Potro was his top man, though his No2 starter. However, Orsanic had three other good players in his locker. The left-handed Pella was backed up by Federico Delbonis, ranked 41, and the more experienced Leonardo Mayer, a former No21 a year ago before injury knocked him to his present 113.
The latter two Argentines would join forces in doubles against the brothers Murray—assuming Andy Murray and del Potro were options after their five-hour-plus opening rubber.
Edmund and Pella had played once before, and the tight three-setter went to the Argentine, though there had been little in it. And after their long wait to come onto court, it looked as though Edmund was the sharper at the start. He broke, and took a 3-0 lead. But it did not last.
Pella broke back and they ended up contesting a tie-breaker. Pella took the early advantage, 3-0, but the big forehand of Edmund pulled him back level and he continued his surge to take the set, 7-6(5), in just under an hour.
But Pella, a nimble player whose leftie forehand was able to counter Edmund’s favourite shot, the cross-court forehand to the ad court, replied quickly, and broke to take the second set, 6-4. He was not making as many winners as the Briton but made far fewer errors, just four to 14, and that pattern would continue in the third set.
A break by Edmund in the fifth game was immediately countered by a break back in the sixth, but Pella was moving fast, hitting with variety and angle, and Edmund looked tighter with each passing game. Sure enough, Pella got the break for 5-3 courtesy of a couple of nervy backhands, and held for the third set, 6-3.
The momentum and energy were with the Argentine, who broke immediately for 2-0. Edmund resisted a long challenge in the third game but the 47th of what would be a tally of 50 errors, handed over the conclusive break, and Pella served the match out to love, 6-2.
So Great Britain’s hold on the Davis Cup has been sorely loosened after a first day of action that began at 1pm and did not conclude until well after 10pm.
Both captains can change their doubles line-up late tomorrow morning, though Orsanic has little need to do so, saving his not-so-secret weapon del Potro as favourite to take the third rubber come Sunday.
The winners will take on either Croatia or France in the final, and those two nations remained locked at one rubber apiece. France, the favourites before their tie, lost their top singles players, Jo-Wilfried Tsgona and Gael Monfils, to injury but were ably replaced by Richard Gasquet,who beat Borna Coric, 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-1. France’s other man, Lucas Pouille, also a top-20 player, lost to No11, Marin Cilic, 6-1, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-2.
In World Group Play-off action, Australia leads Slovakia, 2-0; Germany leads Poland, 2-0; Spain—without Rafael Nadal due to wrist concerns—leads India, 2-0; Japan, which has not yet played Kei Nishikori, leads Ukraine, 2-0; Uzbekistan and Switzerland are level at 1-1; Belgium leads Brazil, 2-0; Canada leads Chile, 1-0; The first day of the tie between Russia and Kazakhstan was washed out by rain.