Evans: I got a lift seeing hero Gazza
DAN EVANS started his Davis Cup week bumping into his football hero Paul Gascoigne in an elevator.
Now he’s the one who needs to give his team a lift with a performance from the top of his game against Uzbekistan dangerman Denis Istomin today.
The GB team checked into their Glasgow hotel and found the Belgium team still staying there after their international friendly with Scotland at Hampden.
And in the main function suite Gazza was the star attraction at a special gala dinner in his honour.
Evans said: “I was going up in the lift and when it opened on 18, Gazza got in.
“I was thinking I could tell him it was going up, not down but I let him go up. I got nervous. I asked him if he was Paul Gascoigne. I didn’t know what to say, I didn’t expect him to walk in the lift! But I got a picture.”
That’s a light-hearted start to what could prove an emotional week for Evans, as he returns to the Davis Cup team for the first time since serving a one-year ban for testing positive for cocaine during the Barcelona Open.
Glasgow also provided the stage for his return to competitive action in May when he played in an ATP Challenger tournament at Scotstoun.
Evans added: “It’s exciting. Four months ago I was playing at the leisure centre down the road. So I’m really looking forward to getting out there and representing my country.
“I’ve had some great memories during Davis Cup. I’m sure I’ll be a little nervous going out to play but I’ll look forward to it as well.
“With Andy (Murray) and Kyle (Edmund) not being able to play this week, I was pretty lucky I got asked to play. Hopefully I’ll take the opportunity and get a point on the board for the guys.”