Evans in for Baker
Dan Evans has replaced Jamie Baker in the Great Britain Davis Cup team to face Russia this weekend.
Evans, 22, played in both Britain's ties last year and was the hero of the win over Slovakia, beating two much higher-ranked players to secure a dramatic victory. But, with his ranking stuck in the 300s, Evans was initially overlooked for this tie at Coventry's Ricoh Arena - a particular blow given he hails from nearby Birmingham.
Captain Leon Smith instead opted for Baker and James Ward, the highest ranked British players behind Andy Murray.
Smith revealed his decision to make the change was made purely for tennis reasons, with Evans having proved himself worthy of a spot while he fulfilled his role as a hitting partner this week.
The captain said: "It was a really tough decision. I think all the players are pretty evenly balanced obviously outside Andy.
"When I started thinking more when we got here about the court speed, the environment and also the match-ups against the Russians, it was my gut feeling that Dan had a slight edge over Jamie in these situations.
"Coupled with the fact that what Dan did last year in Davis Cup, when he really rose to the challenge and put in excellent performances against Slovakia and Belgium, is still fairly fresh in the memory."
Baker has returned home to London and Smith backed the 26-year-old to bounce back from the disappointment, saying of his fellow Scot: "He has got a great attitude, which is why this decision isn't around a whole career. It's about week in, week out, doing well at the other tournaments, getting the ranking up and providing more opportunities that way.
"As much as it's obviously disappointing and tough not to be part of a Davis Cup weekend on the playing front, there's many more opportunities out there and I'm sure, as the professional that he is, he'll rise to those challenges yet again."
The winner of the tie, which begins on Friday, will go forward to a World Group play-off in September but, without Murray, Britain are big underdogs.
