A matter of weeks ago, Leon Smith, the Scottish captain of the AEGON Team GB Davis Cup team, led a side without World No 4 Andy Murray into a tie against higher-ranked opponents in the form of the Slovak Republic at Braehead Arena, only for a couple of semi-miraculous performances from Britain's fifth-ranked player Dan Evans to inspire an unlikely victory.
The same uphill task awaits again next week against an even-higher ranked Belgium side, whose singles players Olivier Rochus and Steve Darcis are both ranked in the world's top 70.
So it always helps to have a spy in the camp. In this instance his name is Julien Hoferlin, he is currently employed by the LTA as Evans' coach, and up until four years ago he doubled as coach of Rochus, the 31-year-old former World No 24, and Belgian Davis Cup captain.
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