Dan Evans proved the man for the job as the Great Britain Davis Cup team ended day one of their Europe/Africa Zone Group I tie level at 1-1 with Slovakia in Glasgow.

Captain Leon Smith had been keen to keep expectations in check as his team, without Andy Murray, prepared to face a side significantly superior on paper at Braehead Arena.

But Evans threw the formbook out of the window with a stunning 6-3 7-5 7-5 victory over world number 65 Lukas Lacko in the opening rubber before Martin Klizan defeated James Ward 6-2 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7/3).

It was Evans' first appearance in Davis Cup since he lost both rubbers in the humiliating loss to Lithuania in 2010, and he felt two years of growing up had made the difference.

"In the last ties I've felt pretty small on the court but there, even at the start when we were stood to go out, I felt like I could hold my own," said Evans, who stands only 5ft 9in.

"It sounds stupid but before I felt like a bit of a boy. [Today], even though he's 65 in the world, I felt pretty confident walking out, and that's probably what helped me the most."

The 21-year-old from Birmingham went into the match as a huge underdog, ranked more than 200 places below his opponent and without a win at either Davis Cup or ATP World Tour level.

But Evans flew out of the blocks, winning the first three games before his opponent had had the chance to find any rhythm. The Slovakian did improve but his opponent held his nerve superbly to serve out the first set.

In the second Evans really had to show his battling qualities, twice breaking back immediately after Lacko had pulled ahead and then moving ahead himself in the 11th game before serving it out with an ace.

Evans, whose selection came largely as a result of his effort in qualifying for last week's tournament in Zagreb where Lacko reached the final, had his tactics spot on, mixing up his play well and volleying brilliantly.

He let an advantage slip in the decider but it was not the momentum shift some feared and he broke again before clinching victory when Lacko, 24, fired a return long.

Smith heaped praise on Evans and declared himself pleased with his team's position at the end of day one.

"I'm very happy," the Scot said. "Although there were opportunities to perhaps capitalise in the second match with James, going back to the start of the day we would definitely have taken 1-1.

"I don't think a lot of people gave us a chance of getting anything today and yet Dan's come out and played an absolutely fantastic match from start to finish.

"He was superb and I'm sure that's going to do him a lot of good, not just for [the reverse singles on] Sunday but also the months ahead."

Evans' success raised hopes for Ward, who has been a reliable servant for Britain over the last couple of years and was ranked only 38 places below his opponent.

But this time it was world number 120 Klizan who was on form in the early stages and he raced through the first set.

Ward was making too many unforced errors but he dug deep, saving seven break points at the start of the second set, and slowly the momentum swung, the Londoner breaking serve for the first time to level the match.

The third set was nip and tuck but Ward missed a chance to break at 4-3 and he was made to pay, Klizan reeling off three games in a row.

The British number two moved 4-1 ahead in the fourth but played a sloppy game to allow Klizan back into it and it was the Slovakian who dominated the tie-break.

Ward said: "He started really well. We knew he could play like that, he's a top player. It's a difficult day but I managed to turn it round and at least give myself a chance. I fought hard but it just didn't happen. It was great from Dan to get the win."

The outcome of the doubles clash now looks set to be crucial, with British pair Ross Hutchins and Colin Fleming hoping to continue their good form against Michal Mertinak and Filip Polasek.

Canada recovered from losing the first match against France to level the tie at 1-1.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was a 6-1 6-3 6-3 winner against Milos Raonic but Vasek Pospisil hit back to win 6-2 6-4 7-5 over Julien Benneteau.