A DEBUT win for Billy Harris sealed victory for Great Britain in their Davis Cup opener against Finland in Manchester.
Harris held his nerve in a tight second set against Otto Virtanen to secure a 6-4 7-6 victory and give the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the tie at the AO Arena.
The win, coupled with Dan Evans' 7-6 6-2 earlier success against lowly-ranked Eero Vasa, ensured Britain avoided any missteps as they try to book their spot in the eight-team finals in Malaga in November.
Harris' performance more than justified captain Leon Smith's decision to rest US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper ahead of tougher-looking ties against Argentina and Canada this week, with a top-two finish needed in the group.
This story is from the September 12, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
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This story is from the September 12, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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