Nice Britain captain Leon Smith says his group have a “actually good probability” of successful subsequent yr’s Davis Cup if world quantity seven Jack Draper is match and out there.
British quantity two Cameron Norrie sealed a spot in February’s qualifiers – and due to this fact an opportunity to go after the 2026 title – with victory over Poland’s Olaf Pieczkowski on Saturday.
Norrie produced an expert efficiency, dropping simply three factors on serve, to win 6-4 6-4 in opposition to the world quantity 484 and provides Britain an unassailable 3-1 lead within the best-of-five World Group 1 tie.
“Actually, I believe we have a very good probability [of winning],” stated Smith.
“It comes all the way down to who is on the market to play. You want your prime gamers to try to win it – that is clear. However I hope the gamers are motivated to play.”
Smith was with out British primary Draper in Poland due to a season-ending arm harm that brought on the 23-year-old to withdraw from the US Open after a first-round win.
“I believe there’s an urge for food from our prime gamers to wish to play, and naturally when you’ve got received somebody like Jack [Draper], when he comes into the group and you have a top-tenner, it clearly makes a distinction as effectively,” stated Smith.
“We have good depth with Cam [Norrie], Jacob [Fearnley], Arthur [Fery] and there is others, and with robust doubles choices you’ve gotten an opportunity.”
Britain final gained the Davis Cup in 2015 when Sir Andy Murray was a part of the group.
Norrie’s victory to seal Britain’s place in February’s first spherical got here after Wimbledon champions Julian Money and Lloyd Glasspool missed an earlier probability after they misplaced their doubles rubber.
The world primary pairing, making their Davis Cup debuts, have been shocked 3-6 6-3 7-6 (8-6) by Karol Drzewiecki and Jan Zielinski.
That consequence put the onus on Norrie to clinch the tie for Britain or danger the group going through a deciding match, and he got here up with the required consequence to earn excessive fives from colleagues at courtside.
Britain had wanted only one win on Saturday to progress from the tie after Norrie and Arthur Fery, who made his Davis Cup debut within the absence of Draper and Fearnley, gained their respective singles matches on Friday.
Defeat in Poland would have meant a February play-off which might have resulted in relegation to World Group 2, however as a substitute they’re heading again to the elite stage.
