Baker and Ward take Britain to brink of victory against Turkey

Victory in Leon Smith's first tie as GB captain, ending a five-match losing run, would prevent a humiliating drop into Europe/Africa Zone Group III, the lowest tier of the competition.

Baker got the team off to the perfect start in Eastbourne when the Scot recorded a 6-1 6-4 6-1 victory over lowly Ergun Zorlu earlier but Marsel Ilhan was expected to provide a much stiffer challenge for Ward. The 23-year-old is ranked only three places outside the top 100 and reached the second round at Wimbledon after qualifying.

But, although Ward is almost 200 places lower in the rankings, he went into the match with his confidence sky high having reached the quarter-finals of the AEGON International at the same venue last month, while he could also draw on memories of two previous wins over Ilhan this year.

Those had both been tight matches, though, so even Ward could not have anticipated the sensational start that saw him break his opponent three times to win the first set.

Ilhan responded to take the advantage at the start of the second but Ward continued to look dangerous and levelled at 3-3. The set seemed destined for a tie-break but serving at 5-6 Ilhan wobbled, handing the Londoner three set points. He saved one with an ace but netted a forehand on the second.

Ward moved into what appeared a match-winning lead when he broke for 4-2, but serving for victory he tightened up. A 30-15 lead became 30-40, and he was broken for only the second time when a mis-hit forehand sailed long.

It seemed it would only be a temporary reprieve when Ilhan double-faulted to give Ward a first match point but he could not take it and a second one was snuffed out with an ace. The set headed into a tie-break and this time there would be no more chances for the world No 301 as Ilhan reeled off seven successive points for a foothold in the match that had seemed highly unlikely.

Ward, however, immediately got back on track by breaking in all three of Ilhan's service games at the start of the fourth set to move 4-1 ahead. That quickly became 5-1 and in the next game Ward found himself with a third match point. This time he made no mistake, forcing Ilhan into a forehand error to seal victory 6-2 7-5 6-7 (0/7) 6-1 and give Britain a 2-0 lead.

Success for Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski in the doubles today would make that advantage unassailable and secure Britain's place in Group II.