Billy Harris Shines in Davis Cup Debut for Britain

Billy Harris made a remarkable Davis Cup debut, helping Great Britain start their campaign strongly despite Jack Draper’s absence. The 29-year-old, who has risen from driving to low-level tournaments in his van to securing his first ATP Tour win last year secured a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory over Finland’s Otto Virtanen giving Britain an unassailable 2-0 lead in their group stage match.

Draper, who was rested after his US Open semi-final run, cheered from the sidelines. British captain Leon Smith praised Harris’ performance, calling it “one of the best debuts you’ll have seen.” Harris’ win followed Dan Evans’ 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 triumph over 703rd-ranked Eero Vasa which put Britain ahead in Manchester.

Despite a 2-1 victory over Finland, Britain could not achieve a clean sweep as Evans and Neal Skupski lost the doubles match 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 to Virtanen and Harri Heliovaara. Smith acknowledged the disappointment of not winning 3-0 but remained positive about starting with a win.

The Davis Cup marks the beginning of the post-Andy Murray era for Great Britain with the team featuring a mix of new faces and experienced players. Billy Harris rise from a low-ranking player to a key team member is a testament to his dedication while Evans provided a steady presence despite his recent struggles.

In other ties, Spain overcame the Czech Republic despite a scare for Carlos Alcaraz, who recovered from a set down. Italy, the US, Canada, Belgium, Australia and Germany also recorded victories in their respective matches.