MOSCOW, April 5 (R-Sport) – Russia got off to a strong start in the Davis Cup Friday as Dmitry Tursonov eked out a win over Great Britain’s Daniel Evans.

Tursonov, ranked 67 in the world, took his opening singles match 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 at Coventry’s RICOH Arena despite a fighting effort from Evans, the world number 325.

Tursonov, who has seven ATP Tour wins, recovered from a lost tie-breaker in the second set to capture the third, rallying back from a 15-40 deficit before taking the set on a double fault from Evans. After winning the fifth set, Evans carried momentum into the six, but Tursonov got ahead 3-2 and never looked back.

World number 80 Evgeny Donskoy faces James Ward, ranked 214 on the ATP Tour, on Sunday.