Billy Harris delivered an impressive debut at the Davis Cup, helping Great Britain make a strong start in their bid for the knockout stage. Despite the absence of Jack Draper, who was rested after his US Open semi-final run, Harris won his opening match against Finland.
The 29-year-old Harris, who has experienced a remarkable rise from driving to low-level tournaments in a van to securing his first ATP Tour win last year, defeated Otto Virtanen 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). His victory gave Great Britain an unassailable 2-0 lead.
British captain Leon Smith praised Harris’s performance: “That was one of the best Davis Cup debuts you’ll have seen. Billy could have won more easily, but he was exceptional. Nothing fazes him, even though he’s not accustomed to big courts.”
Earlier, Dan Evans, 34, put Britain ahead by defeating Eero Vasa 7-6 (7-3), 6-2. Evans’s performance was notable despite his recent struggles with form and fitness.
Harris’s win allowed Smith to give Draper more time to recover, but Draper could feature in the upcoming round-robin matches against Argentina and Canada. Great Britain aims to finish in the top two of Group D to advance to the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga this November.
However, Evans and Neal Skupski could not complete a clean sweep, losing 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 in the doubles against Virtanen and Harri Heliovaara. Smith expressed mixed feelings about the tie, acknowledging the importance of every match in the competition’s format.
Harris’s journey from lower-tier events to a key role in the Davis Cup team reflects his dedication. “Winning on my debut for Great Britain probably tops it all,” Harris said. “Three years ago, I was ranked around 600. I’ve been improving and felt ready when I was called up.”
Dan Evans, now with 26 Davis Cup ties, showed his value despite recent challenges. He faced a tough match against Vasa, who played well above his ranking.
In other Davis Cup action, Spain narrowly avoided an upset against the Czech Republic in Valencia, with Carlos Alcaraz recovering from a set down. Italy defeated Brazil, the United States swept Chile, and Canada edged Argentina.