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Ali Perros: With the number of frequent rain delays, I suspect that the British players feel right at home! A bit like playing at Wimbledon

Jamie Baker
Former GB Davis Cup player on BBC Two

All the players are practised in rain delays. It was a decent start for Kyle Edmund but you can't tell in such a short time on court.

John Lloyd
Former British number one on BBC Two

This is substantial rain. It's following the tennis circuit around. At least it's clay. If you can get rid of the heavy stuff you can play in the rain. They'll probably play the second match under the lights.

Deary me. The players scoot for cover, brollies are already been overworked and we're only 30 minutes or so into this match. 

Covers are being pulled over the court to protect the clay, which suggests it might be some time before we see a ball being struck again. 

John Lloyd
Former British number one on BBC Two

The crowd are great out here. It feels like a British home tie.

Image source, Reuters

A routine hold for Edmund, Tipsarevic nicking just the one point and bringing the game to an end with a rushed forehand into the tramlines. Neither player sparkling, neither hitting top form. 

Lewis Wright: Can recall meeting Janko Tipsarevic back at Queens in 09 (shortly before chatting with Nadal), and yes, he is as cool in person!

Tipsarevic, 11 years Edmund's senior, goes 30-15 up after the Briton drills a backhand wide. The rallies have been short, so far, and not particularly sweet. Another stray stroke from Edmund and the Serb is within a point holding. 

Edmund swings at a return, which drops a fraction long of the paint. That was so so close. 

The partisan crowd cheer loudly as Tipsarevic nicks the opening two points, though Britain's fans counteract by repeatedly chanting "here we go". 

Edmund, who has never played Tipsarevic, is up against it, but Tipsarevic swings a forehand long which allows the Briton to level at 30-30. 

The Serb then misdirects a backhand into the tramlines and it's the visiting fans who are filling the air with cries of "ole! ole!". Edmund, nerves steadied, secures the hold. 

Janko Tipsarevic is ranked 405 in the world but his ranking does not tell the whole story. In 2012, the Serb was eighth in the world and for the past two to three years his career has been put on hold because of injury. 

"I was having psychological problems and depression. It has been a rollercoaster ride, but I have prevailed," he told BBC Sport. 

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent at Wimbledon

Kyle Edmund has clocked up some useful tour wins since making his debut in last year's final and can be expected to be a major part of the GB team for another decade. Captain Leon Smith says he can "absolutely" see him as a top-10 player of the future.

James Ward, with his grass court shoes in his suitcase, was planning to fly to Rhode Island last Wednesday, before a call from his captain that morning altered his plans. He has not won a tour level match since last year's Wimbledon, but the hope is that his Davis Cup experience will come to the fore.

Serbia team captain Bogdan Obradovic on Novak Djokovic's absence: “He has played so many times for us in the Davis Cup but he is not here this time because he is preparing for the Olympics and we have no issues with that.

“We still have a good team and although it makes me happy that Murray has pulled out too, I have to congratulate him on winning the big title.”

Image source, Getty Images

Great Britain’s team captain Leon Smith: “Andy’s not here, Novak’s not here, so that obviously balances things.

“It’s very even on paper but the home team always has the edge for choosing the surface and the home crowd support. On the other hand, we have a lot of Davis Cup experience across the team so it should be a really close match.”

And prior to the Davis Cup quarter-final between France and the Czech Republic in Trinec there was a minute's silence for the victims of the Nice attack.

Both teams are currently walking onto the court and will line up for a minute's silence in memory of those killed after a lorry slammed through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the southern French city of Nice.

Serbian flags are being enthusiastically waved, the brollies have been chucked to the side as the dark clouds disappear. There will be tennis hurrah!