First Round - Great Britain v Japan: Day 1 Davis Cup

Welcome to this historic occasion. I bet you never thought you would see

the day again. Kyle Edmund, his Davis Cup debut. What a moment for

him. Kyle Edmund, first set. Belgium back in it. It took two and three

quarters hours but finally David Goffin seems to be enjoying himself.

Match number two. It has undoubtedly been one of Andy Murray 's main

priorities this year. He is a class above. It's all going to plan. One

down, two to go. Win this match, win the Davis Cup. This time Jamie

Murray takes the starring role. The Mahrez have edged to Great Britain

closer. Andy Murray serving to David Goffin. That is just outstanding.

One set away from more tennis history. So much of Andy Murray's

dear dedicated to getting himself into this position to close it out.

Great Britain have done it in the most spectacular style. The Davis

Cup is on its way back in! We will never tire of reliving that

victory in Belgium last year, a glorious day, and now just 96 days

later the champions start their dependents and here in Birmingham

the fans are out in force once more. -- their defence. One of the most

iconic trophies in sport, it will be paraded around the country over the

next year to hopefully inspire youngsters but also let all tennis

fans feel part of the momentous victory. Japan first up for Liam

Smith and his victorious team led by new father Andy Murray who faces the

Japanese number two, Taro Daniel. Dan Evans in for the injured Kyle

Edmund and in his hometown he faces the Japanese number one Kei

Nishikori. We know Jamie Murray will be playing in the doubles but we

don't know if he will partner his brother or Dominic Inglot. The

players are in the tunnel and will be coming out in just a moment, I am

high above the court here in Birmingham alongside John Lloyd and

Andrew Castle as we see Taro Daniel, and nervous time for him. He doesn't

have a lot of Davis Cup experience, even tennis experience. He is tall,

raised in the Spanish system, he has earned his place in the top 100.

Very solid, matches up horribly with Andy Murray, likes to construct his

rallies, nice forehand and skips around. Possibly a big ordeal for

him. Accompanied by his captain Leon

Smith, representing Great Britain, please welcome Andy Murray!

CHEERING APPLAUSE

What a welcome for Britain's number one Andy Murray, although it was a

team triumph last year it was a superhuman effort by this man

winning all 11 of his live matches in the Davis Cup and what a journey

also for Liam Smith. Four years ago Great Britain facing relegation into

the deepest depths of this competition then just four years

later becoming the champions. It has been remarkable, think about it, we

are Davis Cup champions. Sometimes I pinch myself but a lot of it is down

to Andy Murray. When you have someone as brilliant as he is and

you can almost count on two wins in every match you play, he is keen to

play every match again this year and why can't we go all the way again?

When he is playing this well he can win two matches on his own and we

have great doubles team as well. Winning all 11 live matches, no one

has done that before. He has the most amazing appetite to play the

Davis Cup, the team is built around him and when he said the other day

he is looking to commit this year as well I was frankly astonished

because it's such a busy year with the Olympics and the thing else but

if he wants to play and is having a good time and if he stays here, the

baby is here, it'd be fantastic if he has another fulltilt at it.

Without him we cannot do it but we can with him. A lot has changed for

him and that victory last year, he said it meant the most, he's won

Grand Slams but a team effort for Great Britain meant so much. Just

listen to the reception he is getting, he is popular throughout

the world and when he comes out in the big slams he gets a big welcome

but nothing like Davis Cup. You don't hear anything like this, Davis

Cup is special and he realises that. He played brilliantly and I think he

has the appetite, won one, why not again and again, why not? He is

certainly capable. Imagine captaining against him, what are you

supposed to do? If we need him to win three matches you will do it.

Kei Nishikori will be a big demand but he comes here, everything else

is wonderful in his life right now why not just enjoy this and commit?

It has been 33 days since he played a match, I can't believe it has been

96 days since we were in Belgium, where does the time go? If he gets

the job done I am interested to see whether or not right after one for

them, I am not sure about Serbia, Djokovic and Murray could play in

the next round, the Davis Cup is wonderful. You're getting yourself

ahead of it, a ball has not even been struck. Who are we playing

next? A lot has changed for Andy Murray, reached the final in the

story and open and became a father for the first time. Has not played

for five weeks but let's hear how he is approaching this time.

Congratulations on becoming a dad, is there anything in the last few

weeks which has challenged you? Labour was surprisingly for me, it

is tough but amazing at the same time. The reward at the end is great

and I thought I had all in the world for Kim but even more after seeing

that. Reflecting on what the Davis Cup team achieved last year? It will

be one of the biggest achievements in all of our careers regardless of

what we go on and do now but I would love to do it again. The important

thing will be concentrating on this tie and getting through it because

it will be tough but we have a chance and if we can get through it

you never know what can happen. Last year you suggested that maybe in an

Olympic year it would be tough to do both but have you changed your

thoughts? It is not tough to commit to it but that period of the year

with Wimbledon, the Davis Cup and the Olympics and the US Open, it is

so condensed and compact and so many changes of service that it will be

difficult. But the Davis Cup gave me a lot last year, I want to be part

of this team as much as I can in the future hopefully we get through this

tie and see what happens. But I will be playing if we are still involved,

for sure. We will find out a fair bit about Andy Murray today, the

five-week break, becoming a new dad, his whole life has changed, his

whole perspective has changed. It is charming when a new father talks

about his wife and a new family situation, he says he will go to

Miami, they will go to Miami after this and travel with Sofia for the

first time. He said I understand they are very portable at this age!

You don't know much when you are a new dad but you learn quickly that

it is good to be out on the tennis court doing what you are brilliant

at and you have a new perspective. I think he'll have a great year

because everything is nicely settled. He asked some of the

players on the circuit to our dads what is the best piece of advice you

could offer and they said get a nanny. And stay in the tournament as

long as you can! It has worked for Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer,

Djokovic in particular, his career has gone to new heights. It creates

a good feeling, it puts things into perspective. If you do it the right

way as Andy Will and you have a bit of help, I think he said he did not

want a nanny and would do it on his own. He's happy, in a great place

and I agree, I think you'll have a fabulous year. Five weeks away from

playing, that is not something he has done before. Also, in some ways,

we are the champions, we think this will be simple but news for

everybody is that Kei Nishikori is number six in the world, the first

top ten player Andy Murray has played in Davis Cup and he's a very

good player, it could be a very tough match. Look at the crowd,

these are the scenes, Britain has been lucky to have so many home ties

and it is wonderful that it is here in Birmingham, the crowd getting

involved. Let's go courtside and savour some of the atmosphere, Jamie

Baker what is it like down there? What an amazing venue for the

British homecoming, we have the Stirling University barmy Army, now

world-famous Team GB supporters. To my left, we have the bench, the

interesting thing at the end of last year, the support staff, Leon

contacted them after winning the competition and it was an amazing

journey and just wanted to gauge from everyone individually if they

wanted to invest their time and everything into winning again this

year and unsurprisingly every single person sat on the bench. Very

special group he has. And what about Andy Murray, getting ready for his

first match since the Australian Open. A lot of questions about if he

will be rusty but he has been training very hard and I think this

match comes at a great time. Couple of big Masters Series events coming

up in America and he will want to be sharper those but I will hope... I

relate hope the whole team really enjoys every part of the weekend

because my goodness do they deserve it. They have gone quiet because

play is about to get underway, a huge moment for Taro Daniel. He was

born in New York and trains in Spain. Representing Japan. No easy

matches in tennis, even though this guy is in the 80s in the rankings,

he has got to start well. Had a tremendous start last season to

qualify in Colombia, he knows what he's doing and in this match he will

go for it. Nothing to lose. The big match will be the fifth rubber. This

one he can open his shoulders and have but Andy Murray is obviously

the clear favourite. Here we go, the first match in this Davis Cup tie

against Japan. Here is Andrew Castle.

COMMENTATOR:, Andy Murray opening up against Taro Daniel, the Japanese

number two. CHEERING

APPLAUSE Stirling University barmy Army back

in action for the New Year and how welcome they are. And what a

difference they can make, perhaps especially in the away ties when you

really need the support. Back at home once again for Great Britain,

three ties at home last year. The United States, Australia and France.

All required to travel overseas to play. And of course the final in

that memorable final, the only time GB were away.

Taro Daniel the six foot three Japanese player who moved to Spain

at the age of 13. His father on business. Moving from Japan to

Spain. Could have been the making of him as a tennis player.

And a real sign of nerves. He has played six points and lost them all,

this is a vital service game for him.

Since Andy Murray came back as a father for the first time to play he

has not yet lost the point. It is going rather well! That one almost

hit the baseline. That one wasn't far behind. This is

a nervy one, John. Terrible start, cannot get rid of the nerves.

Best-of-5 sets so luckily he has time, but, shaky.

That is a way as well, perfect start for Andy Murray in Birmingham. Early

break, stamping his authority on this Davis Cup tie straightaway.

Andy was telling me he took two weeks off for the birth of Sophia to

be with the family and start this next bit of his life, the next

chapter. Said he did not play for two weeks, the most he had not

played since back surgery. Caught a couple late during his first

played since back surgery. Caught a into the rhythm. I was watching him

yesterday against Dan Evans, practised for about 45 minutes, did

not miss many balls. Having said that neither did Dan Evans, he was

playing extremely well. The Dan Evans backhand slice could be very

important in this tie, we will talk about that, he is next, after this.

CHEERING APPLAUSE

That is the first point, I think that is the first point, I was about

late, the stairs are quite narrow here, you have the watcher step

getting into the commentary box, but I think that is the first point he

has lost. It is, thank you for that. Just a little too deep on the

forehand side. Definitely worth a challenge, I was going to say. An

unusual Balter miss, high forehand top-spin crosscourt. -- and an usual

ball to miss. I think you have two challenge in a

timely manner, make it quick. But it's a bit of a grey area these

days. Look at the coach and see if they agree. Have your starter and

then maybe... That is good work from the Japanese

number two. Firstly the challenge and now this, moved very well to it.

Wasn't a great drop shot. Will certainly help him settle.

That actually is probably the weakest part of Andy Murray's game,

the overhead. Don't see much of it these days in the modern game but he

did not get far enough behind the ball and go after it and attack it,

it was like a lazy overhead. Did not reach up and got a bit cramped on

it. That is one of his weakest shot 's. Exactly the same with Novak

Djokovic. They don't play many of those.

In the previous point, even though he lost it, little things to follow

with Andy Murray, towards the end of last season in particular he was

definitely hitting his second serve harder. A few double faults because

of it but I noticed he did one a couple points ago at 99 mph. You

want to see that, especially in matches like this where he can get

used to it. The big test is when he is playing against Novak Djokovic,

say the fifth set, 30-30, 3-3, he goes for it and you can only do that

by going for it again and again in these type of matches.

That, that was a ropey point. It was a five-week delay point I would say,

five weeks not playing. Could have done anything with it and somehow

hit it straight back to him, completely shacked to be easy volley

and then the same thing there. That's got to be worth a look as

well hasn't it? I just don't know why you wouldn't. It probably was

wide. At this time, it's a big point. We don't have any special

access to it ourselves. Miles out! Why wouldn't you look at that? I

agree. A grinding point to finish up with,

Taro Daniel is in for a bit of a mauling here by the looks of things.

Can you imagine that a worse matchup for Daniel, raised in Spain on clay,

happy to construct the points, not a great serve, happy to use his

mobility and he is playing Andy Murray in five sets on a slow indoor

court. How does he put any balls away? He has to hope, he has started

to be consistent, the first couple of games he was awful but in that

last game he played much better and he has do hope that Andy Murray

perhaps loses his patients a little bit. I can see it happening but it's

the only way. -- I cannot see it happening. What can he do to pull

Murray of the baseline, to invent something to create some points? It

is difficult to see right now. Happy to hear from you over the course of

the weekend, various ways to get in touch.

Life on the road very different for tennis players nowadays, in the old

days when you were overseas you are miles away but now the whole world

is connected with this social media business. Skype and all that.

One thing about this Daniel, you have to give him credit for last

year, winning the play-off match at 2-2 in Colombia to beat a good

player and win the match with the Colombian crowd. He has got

something. OK he started badly and was nervous but I think he will get

back into this match, mentally at least. He's going to make Andy

Murray win it, he's not going to freeze. At the beginning I think he

was a bit taken back by the crowd, going up against the number two

player in the world, it has taken him 15-20 minutes to adjust but now

he's in this match a little bit. Trouble is I find myself in the gym

accidentally the other day and Andy Murray was in there, it is a joke,

physically, what Andy Murray is capable of. You go out there with

these heavy balls on this court, five sets against Andy Murray?

Horrible. Horrible thought. We would not get a single point between us.

If we played together we might get a couple. I don't think so! Maybe not.

Third double fault in his second service game and break points again.

The second serve, the double faults are purely and simply because he

sees Murray stepping in three or four feet on the second serve and if

his serve is not the people, he will be on the run so it forces the

double faults. -- is not deep. It was a nice thought, the big

kick-serve out wide, Murray was wise to it. He smacked the return back

nice and deep and it is two breaks. The last match Andy Murray played

with the Australian Open final against Novak Djokovic and he made

the point after that he played all right in the second and third set

but the first set, he could have won them all but lost them all and found

himself in a similar Riddick and that Daniel does now -- similar

predicament. It is pretty good power as well with these heavy balls, 133

is pretty good going. Sometimes on that volley he doesn't

get his eyes close enough to the ball, he is a bit upright on the low

volleys. It's not a bad idea with the ball

beneath the height of the net to go behind your opponent, as a rule. If

you are practising at club level, if you can hit the winner into the open

court with your volley, do so, otherwise go back behind your

opponent. APPLAUSE

That is a tidy serve as welcome 136 mph, it is a toured a force so far

for Andy Murray and Great Britain in defence of their Davis Cup title.

The Australians would always say that, Pat Cash was a great exponent

of going behind people with the first volley or a volley beneath the

height of the net. You will often find that rule will pop up a lot,

you can make people change direction and then cover. The art of volley

and is not something that the modern players need to learn in the same

way that they used to. There is not as much emphasis on it when they are

learning the game. I see it with young players, watching them, and

volleying is almost an afterthought, so much practice is devoted to other

things and volleying is something when you need it, you come in on

great shots and you can hit high volleys but one or two points can

change a match and it is a pity that the technique is not there these

days. There are very few great volleyers these days. I suppose

Federer has to be considered the finest at the top of the game at the

moment. I tell you who has great volleys, Radek Stepanek but he must

be 75 years old these days! And the is good as well -- Andy.

It is a super return, climbing all over that and smacking it down the

middle and at the moment, the point count is quite interesting, 25 to

Murray and eight to Daniel. A relatively simple volley, the

approach wasn't good enough. But you have got to make that. The technique

was not good, as he comes in, look how... His eyes are not level with

the ball and he is too upright. I think he is on the board with a

game. A challenge but catching the outside edge. And the Japanese are

off and running here in Birmingham with their first game.

He certainly hasn't got the rhythm on the drop shots yet, Murray, that

is the second that has landed by the service line and gave his opponent

and easy approach shot. -- and 27 minutes played, one-way traffic,

really, in this set. And that one is up in the rafters of the Barclaycard

Arena and it is the first set to Great Britain, 6-1. And the captain

of Japan has a bit of a job to do here to get anything out of this.

They would have been expecting nothing with Andy Murray on court

and that is likely to be what they get. The polyester suits are back! I

am glad to say that it is not on the back of Jamie Baker because he

deserves more than that. Let's see what he has to say and what he is

wearing. Taro Daniel is ranked 87 in the world, a very good tennis player

but why is there such a difference between the players? Let's see if we

can see the distance between the baseline and the line judge, it is a

big arena with a massive run back. If you think Andy Murray played 60

or 70 matches a year on court like this, Tara Daniel does not, he might

have played in a stadium this site a couple of times. He has been

practising here but with 9000 people in it looks a bit different. What it

means is that with Andy Murray's movement technique, when Daniel is

aggressive, the runs diagonally could and the net effect of that is

that Daniel feels like he has nowhere to go and he does not know

how to win a point. And with the nerves, I can only say that I'm glad

it isn't me that has to solve that problem! We would love to 's EU

chasing around after it! It is a good point and well made about the

size of the arena and how the big players who are used to this have a

major advantage and often in the first set as the lesser player

settles. Thank you, Jamie. That's just a little bit of rust

showing, a great return of serve and a comfortable forehand and he just

rotated a bit too soon and slapped that one wide. He just needs to play

a few more games and he will be back to his best but it takes a bit of

time after five weeks. That is a better start for Taro

Daniel and to back up what Jamie Baker was saying, he is a fine

player, 23 years of age and at a career high ranking at the moment of

87 in the world which is always an indication that a player is likely

to be confident and dangerous. He is a big rock 'n' roll fan, loves Jimmy

Page, the Led Zeppelin guitarist. He has won a couple of rounds recently

in Rio and in Montpellier. At the Australian Open heat loss to Lukas

Rosol but has gone up to that career high -- he lost.

I love that play, good instincts from Murray. He sought his opponent

stretching and make the instant decision, the ball is floated up

high and you love hitting volleys from that height. There is the quick

instinct and the height you want to hit them at. Once his serve had

taken Daniel out wide, it was always likely that that sneak play was

going to happen because he had his man off balance so it happens a shot

or two earlier, likely patterns of play. Lovely.

Marie just getting his man off this huge playing arena -- Murray. Just

bullying him and he is dominating the playing area and the movement

around it at both ends. Agassi used to be the one, you could not shift

him off the baseline. He would rather miss a half-volley than give

an inch. You are right, Agassi's theory,

particularly in five set matches, was to stand close to the baseline

and not give your opponent any time to keep hitting them out wide and

eventually you take the legs away from your opponent, even if it takes

four or five sets, the legs go and your opponent has to start going for

winners when they don't want to because they have nothing left in

the tank. That is what he did for his career but you have to be good

to do it because you have to time it perfectly, paying half volleys from

the baseline but I don't think I ever saw him take a step back.

I think in some ways in this match, it wouldn't do Murray any harm if he

went a bit longer. The Nishikori match on the third day, you are

talking about a way better opponent than the one he is playing now and

that will be a rough match. Now Daniel, from the first set, he

is just changing his tactics a bit and becoming a bit more aggressive.

It is not easy for someone who is a counterpuncher, but he knows he

can't afford to just stand back there and trade, he has to do

something different, take a few risks and at the moment it is paying

off. A good change in tactics. Very nice, the ball rearing up, a

bit of top-spin. A nice kick-serve and another game for Daniel. It is

going to be an interesting match later today, no doubt, the Japanese

number one Kei Nishikori will go in as heavy favourite against Dan Evans

who is a local man and get inspired in Davis Cup. And if Murray wins

this match, Evans, he could not exactly seal the tie but he has

beaten Nishikori before. For me that is the highlight of the day, it is

great to see Murray but watch Evans having a go at Nishikori might be

interesting. I agree. At the press conference yesterday both Daniel and

Nishikori were talking about how Dan Evans is almost old-fashioned in how

he plays, he brings out heavy slices and comes in when you don't expect

him to, serve-volleys, he is something out of the norm. A lot of

players these days play the same pattern but Dan Evans doesn't and he

loves Davis Cup and I'm not sure that match will be as easy as people

think for Nishikori. You would have to say, Nishikori, six in the

world... Of course. The disadvantage for Dan Evans is that he is not a is

a prize to Nishikori who will want to knock his block of after what he

did to him at the US Open! That is all coming up in this wonderful

arena in Dan Evans' hometown. I think Murray has bluffed him into

it! He was having a good look at that mark, right over it on the

half-volley on the backhand side. Nice work, Murray! You lose a

challenge! Murray thought there was an out call

in that rally and didn't even play it. He had a bit of a whip on the

half-volley and then off like a scalded cat on the next one.

That is what you call a waste of a challenge, down 40-0, you have

already lost one, even if he got that he would still lose the game

40-0 anyway and he now only has one left. I am currently the worst line

caller in the world which is why my reading glasses are getting stronger

but you know when a ball is in or out when you are a professional and

you know when somebody has based you, you feel it. -- aced you.

That is wide. At some point, Murray will want to get ahead and take a

lead here so that is the frustration coming out now. It is all very well

sitting here saying it is complete dominance but he hasn't got a break

in this second set yet and that is frustrating for him.

What do you think he is writing down? Every detail? I think he does

every point but I don't understand that at all. You did this on that

point and this on that point, it's a bit of overkill, I think.

Great Britain playing against Japan here in the Davis Cup first round,

the first time they have played since 1931. 1921 was the inaugural

Japanese entry into the Davis Cup. They made the final that year, I

will have to consult my record books again. In Kei Nishikori they have

got a magnificent player and both Daniel and Nishikori, with American

connections. This young man has dual nationality and two passports. He

chooses to represent Japan. I don't know if there is a commercial

imperative there, but he will not get in the American team. No. The

United States are playing against Australia. Lleyton Hewitt, who is

the captain, may put himself in in the doubles because there has been

an injury because Sam Groth might not be able to play all three

matches and there is a chance he might come out of retirement. What a

story that would be. I'm the captain and I'm picking myself, are you

going to argue? Two of the teams that Andy Murray

led Great Britain to defeat. That's good work. What point, much

more aggressive tennis now. There is real attack coming from the Daniel

racket now. Pleasing to watch for his captain. And the rest of us as

well, this is certainly an match in the second set.

Andy Murray leading Great Britain over the United States and Australia

last year, they are playing each other in the first round, career is

the other captain -- Super return and there is the

breakthrough in the second set. To make it 4-3.

You could see their Daniel just late on a few points, got a pretty big

axe swing and Murray with a couple of penetrating backhands right at

the Daniel forehand, who could then late. Betty good game from Murray,

just stepped up when he needed to. -- very good game. World number two,

first achieved that in 2009 right after making the Wimbledon semifinal

for the first time and got out fought by Andy Roddick who played

one of the matches of his career that day. But talking about

experience, 558 match victories, winner at Wimbledon, the Davis Cup,

the US Open, runner-up so many times that they are still yet open. A

pretty big task for Daniel here -- at the US Open. -- runner-up so many

times at the Australian Open. Fairly routine so far. Davis Cup

first-round action. Got that one right. Timed it

perfectly. Shaped as if he was going to go after it then just dropped his

racket on it didn't he? Improvised well, was using that a lot in

practice yesterday with Dan Evans who was also drop shotting a lot.

With this surface, the ball does die a little. It does.

If you can get to the net and not be passed it is nice to volley on

because they will stay low if you hit them well. The doubles will be a

highlight tomorrow. In a match like this, this is a free

game and he will want to make Daniel work very hard so he will be

exhausted even if he has to come out and serve for it at 5-4.

Taken this second serve so early, Murray, gets in, three, four feet,

short backswing and right away his opponent is under pressure. Puts

pressure on the second serve to go deeper.

About six feet inside when he hit that one. Practising his doubles

return! Split step, a good, what, yard

inside the baseline? That is all Daniel needs. Murray

takes another ball on the rise, on the return, the second set has

followed the first. In terms of Great Britain picking it up. Andy

Murray in complete control of this one. Davis Cup first-round match. In

defence of the title they won in Belgium at the end of last year.

Let's go courtside once again and see what Jamie Baker has for us.

First match as champions, has it been any different this week? We

just made a big thing at the start of the week to carry on from where

we left off which was so key with the whole team spirit. Racked this

has been the same and we have just kept right on it from the moment we

arrived. How has Andy Bean, not played for a month and has slightly

different priorities now? He had a couple of weeks where he had

practice on the court but did not play many points, the first couple

of days it was vital he got sets under his belt in terms of practice

which I think has helped him as the week has gone on. Next match looking

ahead presuming Andy wins this? It will be tough, I think if he plays

smart and tactically we'll see what happens. Tough match last week, have

you recovered? Yes, as you know I lost to use excite and three, 6-4,

but I wish I had arranged it fraught after practice this week! -- I lost

to you 6-3, 6-4, but I wish I had arranged it for after tractors this

week. Jamie must have had quite an average

day! Felt sorry for him. If you are wondering where these

matches are being played, it is the all England internal club

Championships, it is your average club championship at the calibre of

player, it is brutal. Jeremy Bates still chipping it around and making

it difficult for the youngsters. You are too busy sunning yourself in

Florida to clear! -- to care. Have you been hanging out with Donald

Trump over there? I have seen him a bit. A lot of security guards

around, I can tell you that much. It is not good with my metal knees

going through the detector, they get a bit worried when they see me

coming. If there is one area which does look

a little rusty today in an otherwise polished performance, it is the

serve, part of it is concentration but it is also the most technical

part of the game so is the thing which is most likely to take time to

readjust after time off. Let's explore that, you and Donald

Trump, how do you know him, do you live nearby? I live in the cheap

places and he lives in the expensive places but sometimes I get invited

to his golf club and see him around. He is very colourful. Is he a tennis

player? I played against him many years ago and he is OK. He is a

better golfer, he's got a very good caddie. He is a good player, I think

around six handicap. But that will change if he keeps doing too much

work, he won't be on the golf course match.

That is lovely. It really is. So aggressive, attacks the second serve

and so quick. That is really want to play the volley, so close to the

net. Spin on the ball makes it did when it hits the court. Lovely first

point. -- makes it die. Surprised he did not challenge that one, it was

very close. Andy Murray just having a good look at the mark.

Dan Evans and Kei Nishikori will have noted what is happening here

and I would have thought they will think they will be on the court in

the next half an hour at most, maybe 40 minutes.

That is... That is not good for Daniel. One of his best serves and

it comes back at him like that. It is jamming. That is the way to

improvise, shorten the swing, somehow got the racket away from his

body and then hit it about 100 miles down the line for a clean winner.

Only about a 15 or 20 minute passage of play that has been of great

encouragement to Taro Daniel, that was at the beginning of the second

set. First serve has been excellent

today, it is just the second which she has to clear up a little bit.

Which he will. But nice Piedt on the first, a lot of power. -- rhythm.

Quite a return to the Davis Cup. If you lose in the first round of the

Davis Cup, if you can explain, it puts you in a horrible position

because you go into a play-off to see if you retain your position and

that takes place after the US Open in September so you have to get to

the first-round match in matter what happens otherwise you are in real

jeopardy. Exactly, it is nastier when you have to play that match to

stay up. Coming up against a hungry team which has perhaps come up, has

come up from group one and are eager to take your place and it's not

easy. This is a vital match for many different reasons. It is

mouthwatering to think, again we shouldn't look too far ahead, but

what the heck I am going to, to play possibly Serbia in Serbia. Djokovic

Murray, finals of Wimbledon the week before and then could be playing

each other in Serbia. You have to look at these things, it is fun to

imagine even if it might not happen. Serbia are playing Kazakhstan who

are pretty handy themselves actually. That is in Belgrade.

Just haven't seen that enough times from Daniel, being able to get Andy

Murray on the run. Murray is the one who has been dictating play.

Interesting shot selection here from Murray, this drop shot, unusual but

a nice feel. We spoke about the 11 match winning

streak for Andy Murray as we look at this challenge, someone else who is

on a streak is the Japanese number one who is coming up after this,

Nishikori has not lost in the Davis Cup since 2012. Lost to you for

the umpire did not see a gap between ball and line and overruled the

first serve himself, no need for Hawk-Eye. Nice.

We will see, you are not going to win this match most likely but he's

a nice player, does not look to me like a top 50 player particularly.

Could get there, I suppose, top 30, I don't know.

He once won 100 matches in a season on futures and popping into

challengers as well. And the Spanish regional events which are from the

hardest school in the world. 100 matches in one year. That is a lot.

Yes, you don't do that two years in a row, generally.

Hopefully no damage done here. You can see why when he says he likes to

construct the points, Daniel, he certainly does.

Happy to stay at the back of the court and wait for his opportunity.

That is what playing on the slow surfaces, playing on clay, playing

in Spain gives you. Asked Murray, he came through the same system.

Get the right technical help, play an million matches against good

players and funnily enough you turn out OK! CHUCKLES

Daniel rarely will feel he should have won that point, Murray stayed

in it after putting up that short overhead which should have been put

away. Murray did well to hang in it. When you think how timid Daniel came

out in this match and how nervous he looked, hasn't he settled well? He

is expressing himself on court and he is certainly fit enough. If you

can give Murray the runaround, you are doing something right

physically. Very nice. Murray going for the drop

shot quite early. He doesn't fancy going toe to toe on some of these

rallies at the moment. I'm not sure he wasn't a bit winded after that

last rally but that is about the third or fourth time he has been

drop shot it back after hitting the drop shot -- drop

. It is superb technique, you just play it like it's a little volley.

Yet to break serve in this match, Murray has broken five times.

APPLAUSE He had to work for it but nicely

held, 4-1, break points saved. Dan Evans playing Kei Nishikori

later will be quite something to watch, especially if Evans can get a

foothold in the match against the world number six. It is a great

tennis town, the Davis Cup ties here with Henman and Rusedski were superb

and always well supported and don't forget that the Agen classic takes

place here as well, the women's event which always is a fantastic

draw. The Edgbaston Priory has undergone a huge redevelopment and

is one of the most welcoming clubs in Britain. A new Centre Court

facility, high-performance centre, the whole thing. And the chairman of

that club, who has not been in the best of health, Mickey, we just want

to say a big hello. The winner of this tie will play

Serbia or Kazakhstan Open if it is Serbia behind Djokovic, that will be

in Serbia. That would be an interesting match, if both number

one is played, that could be a classic. -- number ones.

He has certainly used that tactic well today, attacking the second

serve and coming in behind it and he has improved it a lot. He did it a

lot last year as well and it is an important part of the game to put

your opponent under pressure right from the first strike, don't give

him time to breeze. -- breath. This could be interesting, the

umpire is going to give this point to Daniel. Murray is thinking that

he heard the call before he hit the ball. I think if this match had been

close, I think Murray would have spent a lot more time arguing that

decision. That is a way. He had his man beaten.

Wide. And it is another break, it is 5-1, Murray closing in on victory

here in Davis Cup and how many times have we said that? There was a

question about whether he would play this year and it was a delight to

hear that he would. I thought after a winning effort last year that it

might be it for him for a while, given the schedule demands of

potentially four Davis Cup matches plus the Olympics in Rio this year

but it is great to see him back. The first served today has been very

good indeed, a lot of pace, regularly in the 130s. Good rhythm.

That second serve was almost in between a kick and a slice, he

didn't really commit to it, it was weird, the kind of pushed at it. He

has to work on that but it has definitely improved, at least at the

end of last season. Taro Daniel here may yet play a very

important part in this tie, a fifth and deciding match on Sunday with

this one almost certainly going to Andy Murray who has match point. And

he closes it out in some style, a spectacular game, Great Britain 1-0

Japan in defence of the Davis Cup. A nice symmetry to the timing,

one-hour and 30 minutes, just an hour and a half of work as Andy

Murray gets that on court after the Australian Open final and of course

becoming a dad. Good work. Yes, well caught in the front row

and that one just felt a bit short and there is a lady risking it! She

has got it. Andy Murray, 1-0, good job says Leon Smith, the captain,

who will come out again in a moment with the British number two, Dan

Evans in a very interesting match against world number six Kei

Nishikori, a genuine star of world tennis. But Dan Evans in front of

his home fans can get very inspired and he will like this court as we

take a look at some of the numbers from the first match. Probably a few

too many double faults for Andy Murray but he broke, not at will but

plenty of times and didn't offer up any breaks at all to his Japanese

counterpart who made too many unforced errors. It is a victory for

Andy Murray on his return to the court. Will he play doubles? Who

knows? It is 1-0 Great Britain. We can talk to Andy Murray now.

Congratulations, a fantastic start, but tell us firstly how did it feel

walking out onto this quarter for the first time as defending Davis

Cup champions? It was amazing, unbelievable support today, thank

you very much, it was packed from the beginning and it is always great

to play in front of a full house. APPLAUSE

And of course the first time we have seen you on court since the

Australian Open final and the first time as a new dad. There must be a

lot of mixed emotions and special times? Yes, the last few weeks have

been the best of my life. It has been really special. It has been

tough in the last few days being away from her for the first time.

Not easy, but it had to happen at some stage. It is a pleasure to come

and represent my country and be with my team-mates again. It's great. And

just talk about the match today, you had a bit of extra time,

understandably, with everything going on but how did you feel you

were hitting the ball? Your opponent got a bit more comfortable, how did

you adapt? The second and third sets were tough with a lot of close games

and tough points which was good for me because I haven't played for a

long time. I was getting a bit out of breath but that was good. Never!

But I thought I played a good match, I served well, missed a few second

serve in the middle of the second set and third set but the first

served work extremely well and I moved good so it was a nice start.

And give us your thoughts on the next match, Dan coming out here

against Kei Nishikori who you know very well. What is your feeling on

that? It is obviously tough for Dan but they have played once before and

Dan won that one at the US Open. APPLAUSE

That will help him and give him a bit of extra belief and he is from

Birmingham, this is his hometown... CHEERING

It will be great if everybody can get right behind him from the start,

he will love it and it will be a match he will remember for ever so

try to make it as special as you can for him and he will do great. Well

done again, Andy Murray, ladies and gentlemen! CHEERING

STUDIO: Andy has asked the fans to support Dan Evans and they will be

there as Andy takes his place on the bench, new lights to be very vocal

on the side of the court. He carried on from where he left off last year,

another victory for Great Britain and too much pace and consistency

and serving so well against his younger opponent. Great Britain are

1-0 up in the tie and Andy Murray, who won 11 live Davis Cup matches,

is through in straight sets today against Taro Daniel. 1-0 up and it

is now Dan Evans against Kei Nishikori, such a talented player

who has risen to number six in the world rankings. That is the second

match today and the double takes place tomorrow. And thinking of that

doubles, he did not get too tired so I think Leon will be asking him to

do that. You have to ask the question of the number two in the

world if he will play but I actually don't think he will. I think he will

put in Dom Inglot and Jamie, they will still be big favourites against

the Japanese pair. Dominic hasn't played since the USA tie last year

and has given a lot of support. But if Andy says he wants to play, there

isn't really a discussion! And he was used to good in all that every

department today. You could see at the beginning, Daniel, what does he

have, how can he beat Andy Murray? He is a counterpuncher up against

someone who is three times better than him at doing that. He was more

aggressive in the second set and tried for a few more winners but

there was only one winner and Murray was superb. His second serve was not

great, a few too many drop shots and the touch wasn't quite there but for

his first match after such a long time he was pretty good. We wondered

how he would play and he was a little rusty at times. It was those

little feel shops, the second serve, a bit more spin, his half volleys

and pop shots that are normally so good -- drop shots. He was just a

bit off but you expect that. There was one point early on when he

mis-hit volley and a drop shot, something you are not used to seeing

from him. It is understandable, he did not play for two weeks and

playing matches is very different to practice. Exactly and the boys were

saying, when he came up here, the first couple of days he was playing

points and not playing very well and getting frustrated but it takes time

and this match will do in the world of good and then it is a question of

if he plays. I agree with Jamie, I don't think he will play doubles. He

looks good but he will have to go up a big level to beat Nishikori. He

will not be allowed to get away with some of this against Nishikori who

he has had some real battles with. That was the slight challenge for

him today, having not played for a month, and against someone where

there is such a massive difference in class, you have to fight to keep

your concentration. He will be thinking ahead to that match on

Sunday with Nishikori. The loose points will be taken advantage of by

Nishikori if they happen. You look at Marie and he has such an credible

game. Such a good Australian Open -- Murray. The says he still wants to

play on, for another six or seven years and it is great that someone

is enjoying it so much still. Champions keep wanting to win, he

has to macro Grand Slams and I think he feels that he could win more and

why not? You look at the top players, Novak Djokovic is

outstanding but the level just below him, Rafael Nadal does not seem to

be coming through, Roger Federer has had a few injuries and has dropped a

bit. They are all threats but Andy Murray will fancy his chances this

year of being number two and having a chance at number one and I think

he thinks he can win more Grand Slams. Djokovic has raised the bar

but Murray says he enjoys the matches and the training. Andrew

Castle said he was in the gym with him and he trained so hard. Since he

was 16 or 17 he stepped up the commitment in that area and his

whole body and physicality changed. I hope he can keep going for six or

seven years but I think because of his style and how hard he trains, he

might have to temper that a bit and not train as much and just be a bit

more savvy around how much he does but Federer has done that so there

is no reason Andy can't. It is a good start for Great Britain. All of

the world group matches are taking place in the next three days. If

Great Britain win and Serbia win, that would be the quarter final

match and possibly Murray against Djokovic. Djokovic is Goode up in

his opening match against the havoc star number two, Nedovyesov.

Australia are 1-1 in their match. Bernard Tomic defeated Jack Sock.

That is being played on the grass at Kooyong. You look at the home ties

and they are mostly in Europe apart from France who are playing in

Guadeloupe, said it was too cold to play outdoors in France. And what a

team he has, Tsonga and Gasquet are not in the singles because he has

put in Simon and Monfils. We will keep you up-to-date with how things

progress in the next few days. It is lovely when the top players come, no

Wawrinka or Federer for Switzerland but it is great that Djokovic is

back after the eye infection he had. He said he was ready to play and

back in a Davis Cup. It is what you want, the Davis Cup is the ultimate

team competition in tennis and you want your top players playing and

when you have Djokovic and Murray committing this year, we all want to

see that. We don't want to see players not playing and I am glad

they have committed. I know we should not look ahead but I am,

possibly Serbia, and it is mouthwatering to think we could have

this at between the number one and two, after Wimbledon, playing again.

This is what Davis Cup brings, the possibilities are out there. When

Murray won that memorable point, to win the Davis Cup, Novak Djokovic

was one of the first to Tweet, saying he remembered what it meant

to him to win and he really deserved it. I wonder if that reignited his

fire because this is an individual sport but being part of the team

seems to be so important to the top players. And when Novak won it, the

final in Belgrade, and he went on to have his first unbelievable year

with three Grand Slams, it obviously did something for him and hopefully

it is the same for Andy will stop that last point to win the Davis

Cup, we will remember that, his signature shot, it was tremendous.

It is the achievement throughout the year, not just the singles matches

but doubles with his brother, all the emotional effort and tough

matches which he came through every time also it was like everything

came together at once. He is now talking about doing it again and it

would be amazing and what an achievement it would be. Absolutely.

The doubles is tomorrow but there is plenty of sport on the BBC and later

this evening after us at 7pm you can join Clare Balding for the world

track cycling. It was a wonderful night for Laura Trott last night,

will there be more gold medals tonight? I mentioned the doubles, we

know that Jamie Murray will be playing for Great Britain but will

it be Dom Inglot or Andy Murray? That is 2pm on BBC One tomorrow.

I was reading about Judy Murray, she talked about 2002 when she packed up

a minibus with her two sons and their coach at the time, Liam Smith,

and came down to this arena to watch Great Britain played Sweden -- Liam

Smith. -- Leon Smith. We will hear from him in a moment but first let's

relive the journey of last year which all started against the United

States in Glasgow. Andy Murray plays on home soil for

the first time since 2011. The return of Andy Murray has been

triumphant. James Ward brings Glasgow to its feet! Triumph for the

Great Britain Davis Cup team, the Americans are beaten.

It is must win for Great Britain and Andy Murray. Murray is one set up

against Tsonga. He is all over him like a rash. Tsonga looking down the

barrel. That it! Andy Murray makes it 1-1 at the end of day one. A big

atmosphere for the doubles. Some magic! The winning blow delivered by

Jamie Murray! The first set to France. Unbelievable character!

Great Britain are in the Davis Cup semifinal!

Here we go, the semifinal of the Davis Cup. Stunning start for Great

Britain and Andy Murray, yet put them in the driving seat. Absolutely

pivotal doubles. We are going five sets here in Glasgow. The Murray:

macro win, 2-1 Great Britain! It is set to Great Britain. Great Britain

are one set away. Great Britain are in the Davis Cup final! On your

mental effort! -- a monumental effort. Welcome to this historic

occasion. One down, two to go, stepping up for his country again.

The Murray brothers have won and they have inched Great Britain

closer. The two number one is squaring off. One set away from more

tennis history. Great Britain have done it in the most spectacular

style! The Davis Cup is on its way back. Now you had three months to

get used to being Davis Cup champions, what does it mean to you

and the team? Obviously very proud, it was not long ago so it is still

quite fresh in the memory although a lot has happened since then. It will

never go away, what we achieved, after 79 years of waiting, to win

the title was an incredible effort from the team. Just so much pride

around it but the nature of the competition, we had to turn our

attention to this tie. If we don't get through this, you face a

relegation match in September and that is a whole different feeling to

what we had three months ago so it was about preparing and resetting

and focusing on this match. Do you think there is the same ambition and

desire and drive among the team to do it again? We talked about it

quite a bit as a team. With this competition, including Andy, the

players play the best competitions every week and you don't get the

sort of atmosphere as at a Davis Cup tie. We have 9000 found it getting

behind the team and the individual who is on court and you can't

replicate that anywhere else. The motivational side, you want to go

again and repeat, absolutely. Why have you chosen Dan Evans and how

effective can he beat at home on this surface? It is a shame for

Kyle, he is a great place and has great firepower to hurt opponents

but he picked up an injury, we tried to let it settle down on Wednesday

but it wasn't enough to risk going into a five set match when something

worse could happen to putting out for longer and we have someone like

Dan who can come into the team. He has played a lot of Davis Cup,

winning matches, in front of a home crowd he will be full of energy he

is playing well commonly plays well in doors and hopefully we can help

him put on a good performance. And that is the match we are waiting

for, Dan Evans versus Kei Nishikori. What is so special about Liam Smith,

why is he such a good captain? When he came back he had a lot to prove

to himself, right from the start, every person who became involved in

it, he got them all together and got everyone 100% into it. You could

dissect his four or five years and lots of different things but the

most important thing by Myles was creating a team where Andy Murray

wanted to play. Because no matter how good the captain or the team

spirit is without him it wouldn't have happened. That me is the number

one thing, we don't need to go to the numbers, Andy Murray was heroic

and every match. Britain is a proud tennis nation once again, there was

a lot of talk about the legacy and what needs to change, what would you

like to see happen? So many things, Andy being the player he is, if you

don't capitalise on him and the Davis Cup there is problems. We

should get more people in this game at grass roots, more people picking

up the sport. People are trying but for me it seems like we just don't

have the numbers we should and I don't know enough, I don't live here

any more so I am not involved in that side of it. But it's such a

great sport and again for life and when you have a champion like Andy

Murray this sport should be played more in this country and we should

get repeat customers. If he cannot inspired us nobody can. I hear

things are getting a bit better now but for me it has to be quicker.

It's about participation but also about recognising talented junctures

as well. Having the people to be able to do that. -- talented

youngsters. There are people we need to target, parents and grandparents

because they will get the next generation into the game. We need

them to have tennis club near to them where they want to go and spend

time and can take their children. Not specifically for coaching or a

match but just to be at a tennis club. I was born into a house 100

yard from the tennis club, after school I would go from 4pm till 8pm

and come home and go to bid. There were kids there were whole time,

parents would leave their kids there, in the evenings only the

adults were allowed to play so any time the adults came off for ten

minutes we would run on to court and they would kick as off. That is what

we need but that is the job of everyone within British tennis, and

the punters out here watching it, to grow the game and keep everything

alive we need to create those types of atmosphere where people are

motivated to be around the sport. Parents played a big part in our

career, there cannot be a bigger motivation than seeing this trophy,

they are parading it around the country, it is going around, it

started in Scotland. This week it has been at the West Warwickshire

tennis club, the home club of that man, Dan Evans. Great to see the

kids involved in getting to play and this is where it all starts, short

tennis. Getting those faces, getting people enjoying it. Yes, instead of

all youngsters picking up football and rugby we have to get them

playing tennis. This sort of thing inspires them, they see the trophy,

that we are champions of the world and you have someone like Andy

Murray who is a hero to emulate. We have to get the parents out there

encouraging the children and get them taking up the sport from an

early age. The little tennis you can play, short tennis, it is a lot of

fun. People always think it is technical and difficult and the

rackets are too big but it doesn't have to be like that for kids. It is

enjoyable for them to get involved. Yes, people take up sport because it

is good fun and if you are, I feel lucky and privileged to be able to

take a sport I was playing and have it as a job and that is a privileged

position to be but you don't need to be making that decision at eight

years old. How can you sit here and tell me that at eight years old that

kid does not have the capabilities to be a tennis player, you can do

it. And they did not go to Spain until he was 15, -- Andy did not.

Let's not identify those kids at a very young age and stop them

playing, let them have fun. They don't have too make the decision at

that young an age. After winning the Davis Cup it was said it was

pointless to listen to the LTA, and that is beginning to happen, that

changes are coming. But no British boys qualified for the junior Grand

Slams last year, we still need to have good players coming through. We

talk about participation but where is the next generation? It is quite

frankly a bit worrying because when you have someone like Andy Murray

who comes around once in a blue moon and hopefully has a few more years

left, but what is the future behind him? If you don't have other stars

coming through will we lose our interest, will the public lose

interest? We have to get this speeding through a lot better than

we have in the past. We don't have enough juniors at a good level and

don't seem to be able to make the breakthrough into senior level and I

think we have to look at the coaches in that respect. You look at other

clubs and training centres around the world, America, Spain, so long

as you get the players up to a certain level like Taro Daniel, he

plays in Spain, Jo Konta plays in Spain, Andy Murray went to Spain, it

does not always need to be in this country, sometimes you need a warmer

climate. That is a good point, there is a lot of talk in this country

that if British players are not training in this country they are

not part of the system but like you say it doesn't matter. They lived

here when they were kids and started here but at 14 or 15 if you decide

the best thing for me is identifying a coach in America I want to work

with and I want to play on clay, then you are not doing that in

Birmingham, you just can't do it. We are about to introduce the players

for the next match, here comes Kei Nishikori. Please welcome Kei

Nishikori! CHEERING APPLAUSE

Such a talented player, the world number six, quite a task for Dan

Evans. Representing Great Britain, Dan Evans!

CHEERING APPLAUSE

Certainly looking very relaxed as he steps onto court, the local boy from

Solihull playing here in Birmingham. Was not sure she would get the nod,

it would have gone to Kyle Edmund but he got a back injury and Leon

Smith did not want to risk him. He's won a couple of big Davis Cup

matches in the past, twice winning in the fifth and final rubber so

plenty of experience with him. How can he do against Kei Nishikori?

Let's hear how he is approaching this match. Another Davis Cup winner

takes a seat in front of me, how has life been since, a few trophy tours?

Have things changed? Not really, I did one trophy to but I liked Andy

take the plaudits because he did a lot. Has it done a lot for you in

individual tournaments as well? I only played one match but just

playing Davis Cup gives me confidence, being around the guys,

working together. He has got it! Can you believe that, look at him. Did

you think this week you had a decent chance of playing? Yeah, I thought

maybe not Friday but definitely Sunday. I'll restart I had a chance.

I will be playing Friday now and am looking forward to it. Playing

someone you have beaten before in the US Open in 2013, presumably can

take strength from that? Yes and no, it was a long time ago now. I have

to put it to the back of my head and go in tomorrow as a new match and

keep trying to win tomorrow and nothing else. Tell us about this

great city and what sort of atmosphere your home city fans will

provide? I have been saying for ages we should hold one in Birmingham but

no one was listening. It will be loud, for sure. The crowds are ready

good in most sport, the cricket, when the Ashes are here it is great.

I am looking forward to seeing how loud it gets. He is certainly ready

for it, didn't sound too enthusiastic but he really is. He's

a very different sort of player, he plays shots other players don't. The

Japanese players in the press conference described him as

old-fashioned in how he plays, slices, coming in when you don't

expect, mixes it up and they have respect for that. He is very low key

but he embraces the Davis Cup. He got stuck in very young, lost a few

matches in tough conditions but he has grown with this competition and

I think he loves this kind of atmosphere and would love it if it

came down to the fifth match as well. He plays above himself and

that is what you want, when you pick a player you want them to embrace

the situation and not get too nervous. He will be tight but he

will do well I think. He is a big match player, loves the big

occasion, the bigger the crowd the better he plays. He does, he will

love being here in front of all his friends and his family, his last six

months, for most of the Davis Cup run last year she was in this moment

of abyss where he disappeared. But last year at Wimbledon he was 750

and now he is 150, an amazing six months. The thing which causes

people difficulty with him is his variety. He has the slice, he can

sit back, but he also has deceptive power on the ground strokes and he

gives you the feeling of not being sure what is coming next and taking

away the time. Nishikori is obviously a class above but who

knows in the Davis Cup, he has had some big scalps. Always mind games,

they have been loving reminding Kei Nishikori about the loss in 2013 but

he is a different player than he was then as well. He pointed that out

right away. He said times have changed. He is a class player. He is

such a big star in Japan, they love him. He's a wonderful player, has

been in the final of a Grand Slam and will be a bit nervous because he

knows if he loses this the tie is over. Everybody gets nervous, even

the big guys but a classy player. It will be for Dan. Let's hear from Kei

Nishikori. You're a bit like Andy Murray in that you have an excellent

Davis Cup singles record as well as a great record on tour, what

inspires you so much about this competition? It is a great challenge

for us to play the British team. They are one of the best teams right

now, Andy and his brother are great doubles players. It's a great

challenge and I'm very excited to play this week. Dan Evans will be

your first opponent, a man who famously beat you at the US Open in

2013, does that match play any part in your thoughts three years on?

Yeah, maybe. But we have changed a lot, both players, himself and me. I

am a much better player, that was a long time ago. But I think it helps

for me to play him because we played one in three years ago and I know

how he plays and I know little bit of his tennis so it is better than

plain Kyle Edmund. What do you think of Birmingham? It is good, I have

not got out much yet, I just got here a few days ago but it is a

great city, very relaxed and beautiful. But you probably prefer

the sun on your back like the rest of us? Yes, it is not the greatest

thing, do not see the sunshine but you know, it is a great city so I

try to enjoy this week. I wonder if he will enjoy this match, we talk

about the pressure and expectation on Andy Murray, that is nothing

compared to what this young man faces when he goes back to Japan. He

cannot go outside of his house, hotel is when he stays there for

events he is mobbed. They are such tennis fans in Japan and when they

have here or they go crazy and now they have got a world-class player

who was in a Grand Slam final. He is one of the nicest chaps on the

circuit, he is always very good in press conferences. He knows what

this is all about, he gives back to the game and is a tremendous player.

Having Michael Chang in his corner as his coach, talking about his

speed around the court and his ball striking, beautiful to watch. He is

a class player with so many weapons, so quick, big forehand. Aggressive

when he needs to be, can change his game, Michael Chang has really

improved him and got him to the level where I think he can win a

Grand Slam. I think before that he was lacking belief but having

Michael Chang in his corner like a lot of champions who have brought in

a Grand Slam champion it has given him extra belief in himself. Up

against a very different player today because he's so used to having

hard shots coming back and using the pace. Dan Evans is a spoiler.

Throwing in very different spins and slices, he will try to break his

rhythm. Nishikori is so solid, it is whether he will be able to get ahead

in the rallies, that will be tough but I think this match will be

closer than people think. We will see, Great Britain 1-0 up, it is Kei

Nishikori versus Dan Evans. Is this going to be a close one, is

Dan Evans in front of his home crowd going to be able to put on an

inspiring performance? He is apt against world-class opposition.

Back in 2013 at the US Open victory, winning four, four and two, a year

later Kei Nishikori came back and was a finalist at the US Open. He is

going to really wanted Nishikori to punish Evans and to do it in the

Davis Cup in front of his home fans in every sense of the word would be

a great satisfaction for Nishikori. Little buzz cut for the Davis Cup.

Very tight at the sides. Businesslike.

Jamie Baker has made his way up the narrow stairs at the top of the

gantry and into the commentary box a lot quicker than John Lloyd or I

were able to, welcome. I should hope so. You are in good shape.

What you have got with Nishikori, tell me if you disagree but outside

of literally I think Djokovic and Murray, I think this guy is up there

or even above them in movement almost, when he is fully fit he is

absolutely the quickest thing out there.

And you have to go and for long way down the rankings from world number

six were Nishikori sets to see somebody who is anywhere near that

age or younger and we will get into that in a minute. He is 26 years

old. Good job Dan Evans. Just trying to

establish the scale of the threat of Nishikori and the stature of the

man, you go down to Milos Raonic, 25, 13th in the world. That

Nishikori the youngest in the top ten by a distance and has been for a

while. Yes, he has really come through, he is so good to watch,

this speed you were talking about, not only coming from his movement

but the way he hits the ball, his whole body, so dangerous. It makes

it hard to read. Djokovic struggles against him, he is not used to

somebody trading with them and running with him when he needs to

and he has given Djokovic a few hidings. Not many people can say

that. But he lost last time out against Dan Evans, the British

number two. That is the element of his game

which most would point to and say there is still a good 15, 20%

improvement in it. The server. The interesting to see what Michael

Chang has done with it in the period.

Quarterfinalist at the recent Australian Open, beat Philipp

Kohlschreiber, Garcia-Lopez and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Lost to Novak

Djokovic. That is the one area you can

identify and say to Dan Evans, OK time you make some inroads into his

game that way? If Nishikori is suffering a little bit from nerves

at some point, looking to see what Dan Evans is going to do with the

second serve because that will be key for him.

Kei Nishikori is so big in Japan he has his own app you can download. Do

you have the Jamie Baker app? Not yet!

It's a bit like a 26-year-old writing an autobiography, you wonder

how much content there could be at this point. But, such is the

interest in the man. I tell you, it is really good, a

great piece of work from Dan Evans. But ten or 12 more of them,

especially if they are in quick succession and I would not want to

know where Dan's legs might be in an hour's time because Nishikori can do

that for hours. That is a Nishikori point won by Evans. That is the sort

that he wants. There was some suggestion in one or

two papers this morning that even if Kyle Edmund had been fit and we will

talk about him in a bit, it is a shame we are not seeing him, but

that Dan might have been picked anyway. I don't see that in a

million years. I am not sure of that. Also listening to the

interview with Lyon before this match, Kile is definitely ahead of

Dan in terms of his level. Speaking to a few people about I'll's

forehand, -- about Kile's forehand, I just felt, it was massive. How is

that comparing to the others and a few of the guys are saying they

think in terms of power and pace it is in top ten forehands in the

world. And Kyle Evans beat Dan deviously.

He had a back spasm, I thought he might be ready for the match on

Sunday but no. But the good news is that Kyle has got into Indian Wells,

that cut-off was dropped. Dan will no doubt represent himself well as

he has done in the past. That was one of Nishikori's better

second serves, had a bit of kit on it but I'm a bit worried about the

lack of intent on the second serve from Dan, I think he really has to

go after it. It is always more comforting to see

Dan Evans winding up to hit a backhand rather than a forehand.

More errors on the forehand side from Dan Evans, his sliced backhand

will Beatty today, perhaps he can get into the net on that one. --

will be today. Two singles matches today, doubles tomorrow featuring

Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot most likely. Then the two reverse

singles. That's on the Sunday. I'm going to slightly differ from

one of my colleagues, and I think that nowadays, you try to sell what

you are watching but if Dan gets a set, one step at time.

He doesn't miss too many slices, Dan Evans. That is his go to and it

keeps him in the point. That second serve was good. He has

come out and he is playing well already, for the most part. That is

a very come very, very late challenge.

That's the first sign of a change of pace from Nishikori's forehand,

fourth to fifth gear. He went right at the man and

apologised, it was perfectly legitimate and that is the first

break to Nishikori. Last year, when he was number eight in the world, I

was looking down the ranking list, at 25 years as he was then come he

was the youngest in the top ten by three years and it is similar now.

Looking further down, Raonic is 13th in the world, 25 years of age.

Dominic Thiem has been playing superbly committee is number 14, he

is only 23, you have Tomic, Jack Sock and Kyrgios. He is 27 in the

world. With Nishikori, you have to think that if there is a natural

drop out, you could be looking at a future world number one. Picking up

on that, it is interesting occurs the is part of that crop to three

years ago, Raonic, Dimitrov, Nishikori, we all thought Federer

was getting older, how long can those guys keep at that level and we

thought one or two would push in. It hasn't quite happened, I don't know

why, if they are not quite at the standard of the four above them or

if those four are genuinely that good. The four above them plus Stan

Wawrinka. Apologies to Stan! This is good work from Dan Evans,

trying to get that straightaway. -- get back. One thing that is very

noticeable so far is that, from Dan's body language, there is

belief. He definitely believes. You get the feeling that this

passage of play, the rate of serve and this possibility to get back,

you have to take this. If Nishikori cuts away, it could be curtains --

the break of serve. Here is the third of the three, a

big point. It would not be a bad thing for Great Britain if Nishikori

missed his first serve. Says the impartial commentator!

Yes. The forehand dropped in and Nishikori couldn't handle it. Back

on serve, first set. You can see Dan's tactics early on,

he timed that perfectly dumb that forehand, he has been careful not to

go into that side to early because he knows the angle and paste

Nishikori can get on it but that was perfect.

That is just floated with the backspin, a few centimetres to long

and break points for a third break of serve in a row in this match. It

seems clear there will not be many easy holds, and we are on quite a

slow, gritty courts. With Slazenger balls that fluff up quite a bit.

A poor game, it is a shame. He will get fined for that. Or not. The

frame definitely went. Three double faults and you can understand it.

Totally. There will be people who say, when I

say he will do well to have got a set, people will be offended but I

am supporting him. He is trying to play two or three levels up and he

is against a man he has beaten in the past but it is very demanding to

do it over five sets. Can he go the distance rather than just one or two

sets? I hope so. He had a good think about that one before he let fly.

And to stay with somebody of this class, number six in the world,

Grand Slam finalist, Dan needs to be right on the edge and perhaps above

his capability whereas Nishikori could sustain that level at third or

fourth gear. Loads of ways to get in touch with us and we welcome them

all. As long as you are nice! Facebook is woke whatever that is.

-- as well. I don't go on that yet but somebody does and we read them

all. Evans was very happy to say before

the match that the key was to keep it close in the early stages, which

every lower ranked player will try to do first, to hang in there. I

think that was the frustration with the three double faults having

managed to do that. It is a little bit smudged but I

think we know who he is supporting. It is always something very pleasing

on the eye, the single handed backhand winner. Fantastic.

I would like to nominate a couple of single handed back cans -- back

cans. I think Carla Suarez Navarro has one of the best I have ever

seen, it is beautiful -- backhands. The British number one, Andy Murray,

crushed the Japanese number two earlier on today and at the moment,

the Japanese number one is returning the favour to our number two. Set

point. He hasn't played a bad set here, Dan

Evans. It is just that point about the different levels between the

players. That is a bad miss from Nishikori,

especially on set point, it was his third, and if Evans can hang on here

and maybe make a couple of points early in the next game, the set

might not be over. This game is a bit of battle at over five minutes.

Some lovely control from Nishikori, a couple of difficult balls to

handle on the forehand side. He does look in complete control at the

moment. Fourth set point. APPLAUSE

Great play. Such a good scoring system in

tennis, you would say that Nishikori is so far ahead but it keeps

changing every three or four points. Yes, wait until Evans wins this and

goes 0- 30 up in the next game. And the longer this goes on, if

Evans were to win this, the greater the disappointment and the possible

reaction from Nishikori in the next game. You can overthink but... It's

our job! Paralysis by analysis! Second serves getting the treatment

from Nishikori who is choosing the shortest distance between himself

and his opponent, straight down the line, and to great effect now it is

set point number six. And eventually the set does go to

Kei Nishikori, the Japanese number one, with the first set 6-3. 37

minutes, keenly contested but I wonder if there is anything Dan

Evans can do to turn this around. STUDIO: We will see in just a

moment, and obtaining match here. All of the matches in the world

group are taking place in the next three days. Great Britain as

champions at the top of the draw and if they were to win they would face

either Serbia or Kazakhstan. Novak Djokovic won in straight sets

against Nedovyesov and Viktor Troicki is on court at the moment.

Argentina are won up against Poland who are making their debut in the

world group and further down, Germany, Philipp Kohlschreiber came

through in five sets against Lukas Rosol. Tomas Berdych is up against

Alex Zverev at the moment. Australia and the USA are 1-1 after the

singles with victories for Bernard Tomic and John Isner. It is their

46th meeting, those two countries. And Croatia are 1-1 up some Marin

Cilic winning in straight sets against Tim Kopra jams. -- 1-0 up.

-- against Tim Kopra Young's -- Kimmer Coppejans. The big story is

that Lleyton Hewitt might play in the doubles tomorrow alongside John

Peers after one of his team was injured. That is what is happening

here. John Lloyd is with me. Looking about Dan Connolly is playing well

and there have been some good rallies. He is playing well and

trying to manoeuvre him around. The needs the court to be about twice as

fast! Nishikori is too quick at the moment and his ground strokes are

too powerful. Some entertaining tennis. They are both always great

to watch and it is good tennis but at the moment you can't see where he

can penetrate Nishikori because he is too quick and too powerful. Thank

you, John. Back to Jamie and Andy. COMMENTATOR: Thank you. The big

story in tennis is how you get some of the most combative names out so

beautifully! I was looking at the paddock stunt team and ask how you

say that. STUDIO: Can I try again? Alexander Nedovyesov. Third time of

asking. COMMENTATOR: That is brilliant, I wasn't going anywhere

near it! Sue Barker, you can't go wrong! John Lloyd, Jamie Baker, that

is much easier! Davis Cup taking place around the world. Lleyton

Hewitt naming himself in the Australian team, I would love Jim

Courier to name himself in the American team and for the captains

to play singles. Some of the biggest names in the game. Dan Evans is

making his way back, just had a banana for some energy having lost

the first set. It is pretty tough for him to win this match. The

doubles will be crucial tomorrow. Do you think Andy will play? No, I

don't, actually. I agree, I think it will be Dom Inglot and Jamie Murray.

Jamie Murray the world another two and Dom Inglot is a very fine

doubles player so they will go in as favourites but with Murray they

would be heavier favourites. This is the strength of the Great Britain

team, no matter who we put in the doubles, they can beat almost

anybody in the world, they almost beat the Bryan brothers last year.

The first double fault. He can get a case of the double faults. He needs

to be close enough on the school board though.

It's going to be challenged. He seems to open up his body quite

early. He seems to go straight onto the court with his shoulders, chest

on, quite quickly sometimes. He turns round a bit earlier, dilutes

the power, Nishikori. He suddenly dilutes the control and the length

of it. His elbows are quite low as well. Going back to my point about

the scoring system, it was a concept. Tennis, best of three or

five set match, is made up of a series of single points. Lets say

that Dan was playing against Andy Murray, he would say, what are your

chances of winning any one point? I would say anyone in the world would

say, I've got a chance of winning one point. So you go on court

thinking, I can't be that person, but if you broke it down point by

point... That is why you shouldn't be working in a bank. You should be

working at the LTA. We would like your comments on

Twitter. If knowledge gets that -- if knowledge like that gets lost to

the game... It is vital for a whole generation of players who could

benefit from it. A good hold, an important one as

well. For the local man, Dan Evans, playing the British number two spot

in the absence of Kyle Edmund, who is ranked at 83 in the world but,

unfortunately for him, because he was definitely going to play in this

type, he got a back spasm. He's had it before and it would have eased

off over two, three, four days or so, but it didn't loosen up to take

the call today. So Dan Evans getting the nod against the Japanese number

one. If you are just coming back in from

school, Andy Murray has already won today. This is the second match of

two on day one of this Davis Cup tie.

Well, it was beforehand that finished it but it was the backhand

slice that set it up. Skimming the top of the net, staying low on this

court, which is laid on boards. A more natural volley would probably

have moved into that position. Dan really needs to narrow his focus

down into the next 25 minutes or so here. He needs to leave everything

he has on the court. To be two sets down against this player, it would

be near on impossible to come back. Choosing to leave that one. On the

serve and volley, 2-1. We have mentioned how to get in touch,

#bbctennis. Jamie Bakker is with me. I will pose a question with me and

just say, the Davis Cup win, does it herald a new and marvellous time for

British tennis where everybody suddenly starts participating? If

you are out there and you have played tennis for the first time got

involved or joined a club after watching the Andy Murray inspired

victory in Belgium last year, let us know. We are happy to hear from you.

What has happened to James ward? Are you surprised he is out of the

reckoning on these occasions? No, I think it is more to do with Dan

having an amazing run since last summer, fantastic. He qualified for

the Australian Open this year. Kyle, we all know how his progress is very

good. James, unfortunately, has had three or four months where he hasn't

won enough matches and the other guys are. I don't think it is any

more than that. That was from Shirley Bradbury, who is often in

touch. We appreciate it. James is playing in the Challenger in France

on Thursday night, I think. A great angle, isn't it? He seems to

be able to develop that angle, Jamie, even though he isn't that

wide himself. He wasn't in the tramlines. He was standing in the

baseline and he was able to get it all.

This is such a trait of his game. We will not see the whole picture here,

but that forehand was so aggressive. It probably cost about eight feet

above the net. The margin is unbelievable. -- it probably passed

about eight feet. Oddly enough, he just lost a bit of

composure as he arrived at the ball. He is so fast. Really had no need,

with the amount of time that he had, to rush himself. Dangerous times for

Dan Evans, trying to hang in. Such good positioning. He just how

bad for a milli second longer than he needed. -- he just held that.

Is a shame for British hopes because, each time he comes to the

to serve, it feels like he desperately needs to hold it. It

feels like the pressure is on him now. Well, look at that. That is a

flamboyant outfit! The technique on that return is so

good, such a short backswing and he really attacks the contact with the

ball. It just flew past Evans. How many of those do you think he hit

from ages 14 to 18? Not enough top-spin on that one. Was

it long? So rare to miss that two-handed

backhand. He really has to hold this game.

Twice, he has won fifth and deciding matches in Davis Cup ties. He will

play Taro Daniel in the fifth match of this tie on Sunday afternoon, if

required. The Davis Cup is the best of five matches over three days. Two

singles today, doubles tomorrow, always good fun, and then two

singles on the final day. 763rd in the world last June. 157th

now. There are no short cuts to that position.

He has never been a top 100 player, which James Ward has been, and Kyle

Edmund will probably be for a long time to come. He is 83 in the world.

We invited your comments on #bbctennis. Thank you for getting in

touch. An annoying amount of respect and love for Jamie Bakker coming in.

People like Jamie should be involved coaching kids in the game, not

working in a bank. Isn't that what you said? Yes, but it doesn't

matter! It is true, why isn't Jamie Bakker LTA's CEO? He definitely has

the knowledge and the passion. Great advice from Jamie, never heard it

put like that before. We were talking about the scoring system and

the way to look at a match and Jamie's great advice, which I said

good only be given by a former player. You work in a bank, not on

foreign exchange or anything, a different department. Were you not

asked to go into the game? Funnily enough, I wasn't. I have offered to

volunteer a lot of time, and I have done over the last couple of years,

but it is difficult. When you choose not to be involved full-time, there

is probably only so much you can do. To be honest, going into another

business was part of maybe a longer term plan to come back and help the

game. I felt that staying in on a more management type level, I would

still be too close to the game, too emotional about it. Having had

business experience, I felt that would add something in a feud years.

So you want to make your millions and you couldn't at the LTA? Is that

what you are saying? Not at all. Good work from Dan Evans. He has

continued to be picked for Davis Cup outings on a regular basis, despite

all sorts of things going on in his life. He is no doubt a talent. And

he will be quick to say himself that at times his attitude and his desire

are not there but, when it comes to the gift of striking a tennis ball,

he certainly has that. The way he plays the game, Andrew,

he is annoying to play against, and that is a really good trait to have.

You don't know what is coming next. Players rank really but you would

look forward to playing them. He is not one of those. This is the way

that people always used to play. It was fun to watch.

I want to see much more of this from Daniel, hitting ground strokes and

see him coming forward towards the net.

No bite on that return. It was a mid-court ball that came into the

court and sat there and said, hit me. Two break points for Britain

here. Nishikori is getting ready to serve.

He is going to be held up. 9000 people in this Barclaycard

arena, Birmingham. It was close. He had his chances in

that rally to get in. I thought you might get one of those backhands and

get into the net with a low ball, but he elected to coming on the

backhand. Nishikori saves the third of three break points.

Five straight points for Kei Nishikori so, to his credit, he

makes it 4-3. Evans had his chances and played well. You will love this,

Jamie. The court of final result from the WTA event in Malaysia,

immolation open. Naomi Brodie is continuing her good defeating Sabine

Lisicki. Great effort. Fantastic win! The girls, with Heather, Naomi,

they have got good momentum. Johanna Konta was a semifinalist at the

wizened Australian Open, which was a great surprise. It looked like she

was wearing it well. It looked comfortable, she was composed. Naomi

Brodie did well at Auckland. Heather Watson winning matches as well. If

Laura Robson can come back from her wrist injury... It has been such a

long time since she has had a chance to have a run of matches. It is so

difficult, because I always think, with injuries, not only are you

spending time not being able to improve and not playing, but

everybody else is improving and playing. It is a double effect. Ever

had a bad wrist injury? Not as bad as yours! You can't even say it is a

tennis injury either. That would be OK. Don't make me tell people how I

did this! I fell off a hoverboard. Backwards.

On New Year's Eve. Don't go on then. Came off the man, I think, the last

one. I don't know where it hit him. Write it. That is a bull's-eye! Just

to the left or right. Perfectly acceptable, in this day and age,

with a racket held up, host of the time. -- most of the time.

I was always taught, if you got hit, you are in the right place, because

your opponent didn't have anywhere else to go. Was it somebody who had

just hit you who said that? Called out, the man is under

pressure. If he is right,... He isn't, unfortunately. It isn't easy,

calling, it really isn't. It is an ace, and it is for- four, second

set. Coric Evans worked that point really

well. But I think that the court is a little too slow for him. A faster

court, he would not hesitate. I was just trying to think, we have not

seen one chip and start yet. These tennis balls do fluff up.

When they fluff up on this surface, it makes them slower. More difficult

to play an aggressive type of tennis.

Kei Nishikori, the first Asian man, obviously a superstar tennis player

in the region and in Japan. The first Asian man to reach a grand

Islam final, 2014. Most people, be it from Indonesia, the Chinese and

the Japanese, if they picked a racket sport it was badminton and

than tennis. But recently, with Li Na, tennis has been a very popular

sport. 14 million Chinese players at club level. But this guy is so big

in the region. There is another competition next week, the All