John Lloyd
Former GB Davis Cup captain on BBC Two

Evans hasn't given up at all. You can see in his body language, there's not too much interaction between him and Leon Smith.

Leon is just pulling back and not saying too much. He's being wise. What's going on hasn't worked because of his opponent, and Dan is getting frustrated. Leon has to just let him get that frustration out.

The lead goes back and forth before Chardy forces deuce with a well-flighted forehand. Evans gets the advantage though with a big serve that Chardy can only return into the net, and he tidies up the set with a nice ace that his opponent just watches hit the back of the court.

There's frustration in every bit of Dan Evans' body as he shouts towards the GB camp. The slower pace of the clay court is just not suiting him.

Evans punches his racquet in frustration - and receives a code violation for his troubles - as he's made to look a bit daft by a Chardy volley at the net. He fights back with a cracking forehand that beats Chardy's sprawl backwards, but that slippy surface proves to be Evans' undoing again. A simple hold for Chardy in the end.

Evans can't get his backhand working properly, as yet another return slice sails out of play. Not even a bobble from the net falls kindly for the Brit, but Chardy's overhead slice goes awry to make it 30-40. 

Deuce is brought up through a Chardy over hit, before Evans makes a meal of a drop shot at the net. Chardy seems to have all the time in the world as he hammers a forehand and watches Evans skew the return into the GB box. Early break to Chardy.

Evans ended up throwing his racquet in frustration at the end of that set. It's a huge ask now for the Brit.

Image source, Getty Images

Over in Belgium, Steve Darcis has given his country a 1-0 lead over Spain with a 6-7 6-1 6-1 7-6 victory over Paolo Lorenzi .

The second tie of the day is underway in Belgrade after Novak Djokovic's earlier victory and it's all-square in the first set at 2-2 between Viktor Troicki and Spain's  Pablo Carreno Busta .

But there's even bigger news coming from Nicosia.

In Group II,  Marcos Baghdatis ' historic run of 36 consecutive Davis Cup wins has been ended by Tunisia's Moez Echargui.

Baghdatis' last defeat in the Davis Cup came way back in 2003 - that's 14 years ago.

All too easy from Jeremy Chardy, forcing Evans deep behind the baseline. The Brit can only stand there and watch the ball go flying past him. Chardy is in complete control of this second rubber.

Pinpoint accuracy from Chardy, making it look effortless as he batters a return right into the corner of the court. Evans responds by letting Chardy go sliding to his right as the ball flies past his left. That's a neat drop shot from Evans, right arm pointing upwards like a flamenco dancer, and the Brit will hold.

Jamie Baker
Former GB Davis Cup player on BBC Two

If you put Dan Evans on a hard court, you would see him hit a lot of forehand winners. He looks like he's got a big forehand.

But put him on clay, when the bounce is suddenly at shoulder and head height compared to waist height, it really does make a difference for him. 

Evans tries to go on the move, dancing up to the net, and ends up watching his forehand bounce just beyond the baseline. A double-fault from Chardy gets Evans on the board at 30-15, but Chardy goes across the court before sending down his fifth ace of the set. A pretty simple hold, and Chardy is a game away from taking the second set.

There's not a lot going Dan Evans' way. Everything he sends down, Chardy is equal to. Two almighty forehands put Chardy three break points up, and the Frenchman secures the break as Evans skews a return wide.

Evans gets some awkward bounce that he can't do anything about, before Chardy slices another fine forehand beyond his reach. Down comes the big ace, Chardy's back curved at such an odd angle, before Evans floats a perfectly decent-looking backhand out of play.

Image source, Getty Images

Some nice stuff now from Evans, first a slam from up high before a drop shot that sends Chardy the wrong way. There's a big roar from the British contingent as Chardy puts too much spin on a forehand, and that's a good hold for Evans.

Has Evans found his feet? He slides deep to his right but somehow manages to get his composure back and hammer a winner past Chardy. Chardy's having none of it, though, as he puts some extra power into his serve to beat Evans.

* denotes next server

"Come on!" shouts Evans as he finally leaves Chardy rooted to the spot with a forehand from the corner of the court. Chardy brings the Brit forward, and Evans poses like a flamingo as he dinks the return way beyond Chardy's reach. He'll hold his serve.

Image source, Getty Images

Evans looks to have found his feet a little more but Chardy is so strong with that awkward-looking serve. Twice Evans is left chuntering at the ground in frustration as he sends his returns down the line, and out.

The crowd get a Mexican wave going while both captains offer their players some advice. Chardy will serve to open the second set.

Evans is furious with himself as he tries to slide on the clay but overdoes it, and ends up stretching to try and get some control. He wrests it back to 30-30 with a nice forehand but Chardy is equal to it, slashing a forehand beyond Evans.  

That's clever from Chardy, drawing Evans forward before smashing the return beyond him. He's taken the first set in just under 40 minutes.

Now then. Evans gets the advantage - and he'll snaffle one of the breaks back! Chardy comes up to the net but the ball hits the net and bounces back and out. There's a miniature fist pump from Evans as he stomps back to his chair.