In a thrilling Davis Cup Finals group stage matchup, Great Britain got off to a flying start with a 2-1 victory over Finland at the AO Arena in Manchester. Billy Harris and Dan Evans were the heroes for the British team, winning their respective singles matches to secure the win.

Despite resting US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper for their opening bouts, Great Britain managed to come out on top against a tough Finnish side. Harris, making his tournament debut, displayed nerves of steel as he defeated Otto Virtanen in a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6 (7) battle.

The 28-year-old Harris, who only notched his first ATP Tour win last year, proved that he belongs on the big stage with his impressive performance. Captain Leon Smith’s decision to rest Draper and give Harris a chance paid off handsomely.

Harris controlled much of the match, but Virtanen staged a comeback from being down two sets in the second set, forcing a tie-break. However, Harris remained composed and sealed the victory for Great Britain.

With this win, Great Britain now has a strong chance of progressing to the knockout stage of the tournament. The team will be looking to Draper to make a return against tougher opponents such as Argentina or Canada in the upcoming matches.

In another milestone for the team, Evans surpassed Andy Murray in Davis Cup appearances, playing in his 26th match. The Brit showcased his experience by dominating his opponent in the second set to secure the win for his team.

As the victory was already in the bag, Evans teamed up with Neal Skupski for the doubles match against Finland’s Harri Heliovaara and Virtanen. The duo fought hard but ultimately fell short against the Finnish pair.

In other Davis Cup action, Germany cruised to a 3-0 victory over Slovakia in Group C, while Australia edged out France 2-1 to take the top spot in Group B. Belgium also notched a 2-1 win over the Netherlands to lead Group A.

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz of Spain clinched a singles win against Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac and will be looking to seal a 3-0 victory for Spain in the doubles match. The young Spaniard has been in fine form and will be a key player for his team in the upcoming matches.