Great Britain secured a 2-1 victory against Finland in their Davis Cup group stage opener, thanks to a strong performance by Billy Harris, who stepped in for Jack Draper. Draper, who recently reached the US Open semi-finals, was rested by team captain Leon Smith to recover fully for upcoming ties against Argentina and Canada.
In his Davis Cup debut, Harris defeated Otto Virtanen 6-4, 7-6 (4), securing the decisive win for Britain. The 29-year-old Harris, a late bloomer in the tennis world, showed composure in a tightly contested match, withstanding pressure to close out in a tie-break. Dan Evans also contributed with a hard-fought victory over Patrik Niklas-Salminen, although Finland managed to avoid a clean sweep by winning the doubles match.
Draper’s absence was due to his grueling US Open semi-final against Jannik Sinner, where he battled illness on court. He is currently undergoing assessments to determine his fitness for future matches in the Davis Cup, with Britain looking ahead to more challenging ties.
Despite Draper’s rest, Harris and Evans stepped up, ensuring Britain a strong start in their quest for the Davis Cup title. Harris described the experience as nerve-wracking but rewarding, especially as he represented his country on a major stage. The victory places Great Britain in a good position as they prepare for tougher challenges ahead in Manchester.
