Britain humbled

Lithuania scored a huge victory - for them - as they inflicted Britain with a humiliating defeat in the Euro / Africa Group II zonal competition of the Davis Cup.

Britain, in theory the more experienced side, have been embarrassed by a nation with just three players in the ATP world rankings, and all teenagers.

With Britain leading 2-1 with two rubbers to go on the third and final day of play, the Lithuanians proved the more resourceful as they withstood the pressure to win the both and secure a 3-2 victory and a fifth consecutive defeat for the British team.

After James Ward's loss to Ricardas Berankis earlier in the day, the result came down to the last singles rubber between Dan Evans and Laurynas Grigelis - a player ranked 269 places below the Birmingham teenager at 521 and one has never played a match on the ATP World Tour.

Evans recovered from a nightmare third set to force a decider but it was not enough as 18-year-old Grigelis triumphed 6-7(6) 7-5 6-0 2-6 6-4.

Needless to say that win launched ecstatic celebrations by the home team who had produced the best ever result in their own short tennis history.

In contrast, British skipper John Lloyd, was left to contemplate humiliation and his future in the role after becoming the first GB captain to have set another more embarrassing record, namely the five successive defeats.

Britain must now beat Turkey, who lost to Ireland this weekend, in a relegation play-off tie in July to avoid dropping to Europe/Africa Zone Group III - the lowest tier of the competition.

In our misery one shouldn't decry the efforts of the Lithuanians, especially Grigelis who failed to buckle under the pressure exerted by Evans.

"Grigelis was at times stunning," said Lloyd. "His backhand was absolutely brilliant. If I was going to (pick out) one shot that turned the match, it was at 2-1 in the fifth, break point, and he had a backhand that hit both lines.

"It was not a percentage shot that even a top-20 player would go for. But he went for it and made it. I thought he was absolutely brilliant."

Evans, who has now lost all four of his Davis Cup rubbers, added: "I didn't think he could play that good for five sets but he did."

Ward had beaten Grigelis comfortably in the opening rubber on Friday but, a couple of break points aside, Evans was unable to unduly trouble his opponent in the first set.

The tie-break looked to be slipping away when the 18-year-old Lithuanian won four points in a row to lead 6-4 but a gutsy point from Evans allowed him to retrieve the mini-break and he held his nerve to serve out for a one-set lead.

Grigelis was not going away, though, and he claimed the first break of the match to move 6-5 ahead in the second set before confidently serving out a love game to make it one set all.

Evans was suddenly on the back foot and was broken three times as Grigelis raced through the third set.

The British number four responded, breaking three times in set four to level the match.

But this was the biggest match of Grigelis' life and he was determined not to let it slip away. And some stunning shots from the Lithuanian gave him the first break of the decider in the fifth game.

The luckiest of net cords helped Evans save a first match point on his own serve at 3-5 and he looked set to take full advantage when he moved 0-40 ahead with his opponent serving for the match.

But again Evans was found wanting when it really counted and a delighted Grigelis celebrated a landmark victory.

There were hopes that Ward would be able to seal the tie in the opening rubber by upsetting Berankis, at 198 the highest ranked player of either team, but it was not to be as the 19-year-old former junior world number one held his nerve impeccably in a 7-6(4) 6-3 6-4 victory, breaking Ward once in the second and third sets.

The British number three, who was playing in his first Davis Cup tie, felt he was unfortunate to come out on the wrong side of a close match. "It came down to a few points. He served really well today. I served well as well but I could have done a bit more on the return and make him play a few more points. But there was not much in it, just two breaks. It's tough."

Even before the balls were collected off the court, the recriminations and excuses could be heard amongst the hierarchy with heads being called for. The tie may well be over but there is more to come.