- 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, defeating Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 6-3 7-6.
He came through a high quality match to put GB 1-0 up over Australia with two to play in front of nearly 10,000 fans at the AO Arena.
The 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.
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
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 take it 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. We still have got work to do.
‘The team is dialled in this week, we are really trying to get the Finals.’
