Jack Draper enjoys superb start to Davis Cup career after straight-sets win over Thanasi Kokkinakis… while Dan Evans upsets Australian number one Alex de Minaur to give GB unassailable lead against Australia

• Draper’s excellent form at the US Open was transported with a win in Davis Cup
• He beat Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 6-3 7-6 on his debut in the tournament
• The Manchester United fan was playing in Manchester as he impressed 

Jack Draper’s excellent form at the US Open was transported across the Atlantic when he made a superb start to his Davis Cup career in Manchester.

With Great Britain trying to come through the four-team group to qualify for November’s Davis Cup finals, Captain Leon Smith handed the 21 year-old his first start ahead of Cam Norrie and Andy Murray.

Manchester United fan Draper did not disappoint after his fourth round showing at Flushing Meadows last week, defeating Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 6-3 7-6. 

Dan Evans then upset Australian number one Alex de Minaur 6-1 1-6 6-4 to give GB an unassailable lead with the doubles to play.

Both matches were of a high quality, and played out in front of the nearly 10,000 fans at the AO Arena who came out on a Wednesday afternoon.

Jack Draper’s excellent form at the US Open was transported across the Atlantic

The Manchester United fan defeated Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 6-3 7-6 in Manchester

Speaking after the win, he revealed how proud he was to play his first Davis Cup match

Draper’s win took just shy of three hours, with the Surrey southpaw missing out on a set point before losing the opener 8-6 in a tiebreak. 

In the deciding set he needed to break back when the Aussie served for the match at 5-4. 

The sudden death tiebreak was desperately tight, but on his way to serving 24 aces Draper came back from 2-4 to rattle off the last five points in a composed display before a partisan crowd.

‘They got me over the line, it wasn’t an easy match,’ he said. 

‘It was amazing to play my first Davis Cup tie in the UK, I’m just happy that Leon trusted me and put me out here. I’m playing for my country so I had to put everything on the line, usually I am playing for myself.

Dan Evans got the better of Alex de Minaur to give GB an unassailable lead in the tie

‘We still have got work to do but the team is dialled in this week, we are really trying to get the Finals.’

Evans, who had taken a set off Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open third round, was promoted to tackle world number 13 de Minaur, having beaten him twice in previous ATP Tour meetings.

Once again the Midlander’s all-court variety proved difficult for the speedy Australian to handle, and although de Minaur mounted a fightback from 0-4 in the decider Evans held out. ‘I was incredibly nervous, this place is a lot bigger than I was expecting, Jack played an amazing match and made my job easier,’ he said.

Evans was playing in the doubles rubber last night alongside Neal Skupski, and GB will return to action on Friday against Switzerland.

Source: Read Full Article