Dan Evans admitted he was inspired by a good luck message from Andy Murray after an impressive Davis Cup win in Ottawa.
Evans, fresh from his run to the last 16 at the Australian Open, beat 17-year-old Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to win his first point in a live World Group rubber.
But the hosts hit back as an injured Vasek Pospisil pulled off a surprise 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 win over Kyle Edmund, a player ranked 86 places higher in the world.
It leaves the first round tie evenly balanced ahead of Saturday’s doubles clash between Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot and Daniel Nestor and Pospisil.
"We had a video message from Andy last night and put it on the big screen," said Evans.
"I'm guessing he was watching, he said he would be. It's obviously nice he supports the team and he’s a good guy to have in our corner.
"I tried to get on top early. The plan was to come out and silence him and not give him confidence. I did that and then rolled him from then on. I was really happy with way I played."
Great Britain are missing Murray while Canada are without their top-ranked player, after world number four Milos Raonic injured himself during the Australian Open.
But Edmund - who played in the 2015 Davis Cup final victory - was left downbeat following his loss to Pospisil, who has slipped outside the world’s top 100 from a career high of 25th three years ago.
"It was just not good enough and pretty dismal,” fumed the world number 47.
"Everyone can accept winning and losing but it needs to be a lot better at this level. I'm just very disappointed for myself and for the team.
"It's annoying when you have support like that and fans come out and spend money and travel and to put on a performance like that.”
Sportsbeat 2017