John Lloyd
Former Davis Cup finalist on BBC Two

"Murray looked superb, a couple of things, his second serve wasn’t great he drop-shotted a couple of times but for his first match coming back after such a long time, he was pretty good."

As Andy Murray mentioned, Dan Evans and Kei Nishikori have met once before, with Evans winning 6-4 6-4 6-2 in the 2013 US Open.

Is he capable of pulling off another huge upset? We shall see...

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"It is going to be a tough match for Dan. They have played once before and Dan won at the US Open and that will help him, give him extra belief. 

"This is his home town so it would be great to get behind him from first ball to the last so try and make it as special as you can for him and he’ll do great."

Andy Murray after his win over Taro Daniel: "It was amazing (to be back), 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.

"The last few weeks have been the best of my life, really special. It has been tough the last few days being away from her for first time but it had to happen to some stage and it is a pleasure to represent my country and be with teammates that we won with last year.

"The second set was tough lot of close games, some tough points which was good for me. I was getting a little out of breath but I played a good match, served well, missed a few second serves but the first serve went extremely well so it was a nice start."

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Castle
BBC Sport tennis commentator

"Murray is closing in, how many times have we said that before."

Great shot from Daniel, getting on top of a high bouncing ball and ripping a top-spin forehand winner down the line. But an emphatic smash from Murray gets him to deuce. He wants to finish this early. A bullet of a backhand finds the line to bring up break point, and Murray wraps up the game when Daniel sends one into the tramlines.

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Castle
BBC Sport tennis commentator

"Murray is going for the drop shot early, he doesn’t fancy going toe to toe in some of these long rallies. He had to work for it but nicely held."

A lovely exchange at the net, but it's Murray who eventually comes out on top, stretching to put away a high ball, and he's just two games away now.

An intake of breath around the Birmingham arena as Murray yelps in pain while attempting to chase down a drop shot, but it looks like he's OK. From a position of control at 40-15, Murray slips to deuce when he sends a backhand into the net. 

But that's brilliant - Murray chases down an overhead and then flicks a crosscourt winner past Daniel. And then Daniel replies with some magic of his own - adjusting superbly to a net-cord and then slicing an audacious drop shot into the corner. Another ill-judged drop shot from Murray and the jet-heeled Daniel chases it down and puts away the short ball. Break point, but saved by Murray with a big forehand. On we go...

Image source, Reuters

Murray still can't resist an injudicious drop shot - it's his one weakness, his kryptonite. An inexplicable one from the back corner of the court sits up nicely for Daniel and is popped back over the net. In fact, it's a much better game from Daniel - he holds comfortably.

Andrew Castle
BBC Sport tennis commentator

"There has really only been a 15 or 20 minute passage of play that has been of any encouragement to Taro Daniel, and that was at the start of the second set."

Blimey, that was quick. I'm not going to lie, I missed most of that game - I looked up from the last entry and Murray was already walking back to his chair after a love hold. 

Image source, Reuters

Some highlights-reel stuff from Murray now. A delicious little slice volley that just dips over the net, a clean winner on the forehand return, and then the same treatment on the backhand side with an improvised shovel shot that whistles right onto the sideline. Daniel's resistance now well and truly broken, you sense.

Murray is strolling towards the finish line now. He can even afford a couple of service errors as he holds to 30.

Image source, Reuters

Andrew Castle
BBC Sport tennis commentator

"That is all Daniel needs. Andy Murray is in complete control of this one."

Abi Paterson: Murray in control. Glad to have the Davis Cup back on my screen.

So, Daniel serving to stay in it, and an immediate error tightens the thumbscrews. Murray climbs all over Daniel's second serve like an unruly toddler over the gentleman in the adjacent aeroplane seat, but smacks it just over the baseline.

Daniel can't keep Murray out of this though - a winner gets the Scot to 30-40 and set point. A lucky net cord off the return drops on Daniel's side with the Japanese stranded, and Murray is two sets to the good.