Britain's Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans both defeated in Davis Cup
Friday 7 April 2017 18:54, UK
Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans both lost their rubbers to leave Great Britain on the brink of a Davis Cup quarter-final exit to France at Rouen's Kindarena.
Edmund lost to France's Lucas Pouille in the first rubber, while Evans was beaten in straight-sets by Jeremy Chardy.
Pouille prevailed 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 against Edmund to give the hosts an early advantage on Friday afternoon.
There was virtually nothing to choose between the pair in the first two sets but Pouille won both and went on to triumph.
The main hope for Edmund and Britain was that the occasion would get to 22-year-old Pouille, playing in just his third Davis Cup tie, but after being two points from losing the set, he fought back and never looked back.
Evans is ranked 24 places higher than Chardy - the French No 9 at 68 - but that was the only case for making him the favourite in their encounter as he went down in disappointing fashion, 6-2 6-3 6-3.
Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot must now beat experienced French pair Nicolas Mahut and Julien Benneteau in the doubles on Saturday to avoid a 3-0 whitewash with the winners of the tie facing either Serbia or Spain in the semi-finals.
Jordan Thompson caused an upset as Australia came out on top on the first day of their quarter-final against the USA.
The competition's two most successful nations went head to head at the Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane and under the guidance of team captain Lleyton Hewitt, 22-year-old Thompson, ranked 79th in the world, claimed a 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win over Jack Sock.
Nick Kyrgios was up against fellow big server John Isner in the day's second match-up and the controversial Australian claimed only his second Davis Cup rubber win in straight sets 7-5 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 to give the hosts a surprise 2-0 lead.
Marcos Baghdatis's record-breaking run of 36 consecutive Davis Cup wins, which stretched back 14 years, was ended when the Cypriot veteran lost to Tunisia's Moez Echargui in their Europe/Africa zone play-off match in Nicosia.
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