Norrie Gives Gb Lead Over Poland In Davis Cup

Cameron Norrie survived a scare against world number 545 Tomasz Berkieta to springiness Great Britain a 1-0 lead complete Poland successful nan Davis Cup.

World number 34 Norrie saved group points successful a nervy first group but recovered to triumph his nation's opening World Group 1 lucifer 7-6 (11-9) 6-4 successful Gdynia, Poland.

World number 227 Arthur Fery, 23, will make his Davis Cup debut successful nan 2nd lucifer against Olaf Pieczkowski, classed 484, aft British number 3 Jacob Fearnley pulled retired pinch a rib injury.

The wide winners of nan tie, taking spot connected Friday and Saturday, will play successful adjacent February's first round, and truthful person a changeable astatine winning nan title successful 2026.

The world's number 1 doubles pair, Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash, will make their debut successful Saturday's doubles, which will beryllium followed by 2 reverse singles.

World number 7 Jack Draper was unavailable for nan necktie because of an limb wounded which has ruled him retired of nan remainder of nan season.

With Poland missing their apical 2 singles players - Hubert Hurkacz and Kamil Majchrzak - Fery's force Pieczkowski is their highest-ranked player.

That meant Britain were dense favourites coming into nan tie, which was compared to a Premier League squad facing a non-league broadside successful nan FA Cup.

But skipper Leon Smith warned that it was not needfully that straightforward. And truthful it proved arsenic Norrie made difficult activity of his lucifer against 19-year-old Berkieta, classed 511 places beneath him.

Norrie was instantly connected nan backmost foot, redeeming 2 break points successful his opening work game.

A tricky group followed pinch neither subordinate conjuring further break constituent opportunities and nan Pole forcing a tie-break.

Norrie saved 2 group points earlier missing 3 of his ain successful an error-strewn tie-break but a double responsibility from Berkieta past Norrie's pinpoint service from sealed nan 30-year-old nan opener.

Norrie past showed his acquisition successful group 2 arsenic Berkieta's belief and level trailed disconnected and an early break of service was capable for Norrie to unafraid triumph and Britain's first constituent of nan tie.

A torn bicep and unwellness had prevented erstwhile top-10 subordinate Norrie playing Davis Cup since nan 2023 quarter-final pinch Serbia.

He has already played 22 tournaments this twelvemonth but said playing for his state is "one of my favourite weeks" of nan year.

Britain mislaid 3-2 successful Japan successful nan first information of this year's Davis Cup, and truthful must triumph this necktie to support their position among nan elite. Defeat would mean a February play-off, which could consequence successful relegation to World Group 2.