What Evans does have, however, is an X-factor: a cockiness that lends itself to self-expression.
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Britain tackle old sporting foes Australia in front of a partisan crowd at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow when the first two singles rubbers are staged on Friday.
“He has played against Tomic on the tour and has a way of playing which will be tricky for Bernard”.
The world number three said: “Obviously I’ve practised with him a lot and spent a lot of time watching him as well as speaking to him, so for one of the younger guys I know his game better than most”.
It always seemed unlikely that Edmund would play and the onus now falls on Evans who has won 29 matches since Wimbledon, albeit at the lower-tier Challenger level.
On that occasion, Jamie Baker was dislodged from the team.
But nothing in this tie is written in stone-it’s why they play the rubbers, after all.
Belgium are back in the last four for the first time since 1999 and will be spurred on by knowing they will host the final in November should they progress.
The third-ranked Andy Murray believes the blend of his experience and home support will be a big advantage in the opening match against the 72nd-ranked Kokkinakis.
“I’d like to think that we’re not going in with that attitude that he’s absolutely unbeatable”, Masur told AAP.
He has since been for a scan on his ankle, but was hitting with the team today “virtually pain free” according to GB Team Captain Leon Smith.
“The hotel was fine but the courts were a shambles, shocking. He really wants to help”.
“Everyone, I’m expecting, is going to perform well”. “We had a long chat at the US Open and it was a mutual decision that this is not what he needs right now”. In Evans’ only run to a Grand Slam third-round, at the US Open in 2013, the Briton won his only meeting with against Tomic.
The inclusion of world No300 Dan Evans ahead of James Ward and Kyle Edmund as the team’s second singles player is an eyebrow-raising gamble from Smith. In which case, the deciding match-up between Evans and one of the Australians – probably Hewitt – on Sunday afternoon will not be required.
In July he dredged every last drop of energy to win three matches against France in the World Group quarterfinals, clinching the decisive point despite being almost on his knees against Gilles Simon at Queen’s Club.
“He asked me to come to be on standby and I said yes”.
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He continued: “That’s why I’m launching a fundraising campaign today to help the millions of children and families who are, at this very moment, facing violence, disease, hunger, and the chaos of war and disaster”.
