Cameron Norrie beats Roberto Bautista Agut in GB's Davis Cup first-round tie with Spain
Broady loses opener to Ramos Vinolas
Friday 2 February 2018 19:21, UK
World No 114 Cameron Norrie produced a stunning fightback against Roberto Bautista Agut to level Great Britain's Davis Cup first-round tie with Spain.
Shorn of Kyle Edmund after his run to the Australian Open semi-final with him nursing a hip problem, little was expected of Great Britain against their experienced Spanish opponents, particularly on the clay courts of Marbella.
British no 3 Norrie, making his Davis Cup debut was staring at a straight sets defeat against Bautista Agut. But with the Spaniard struggling through a thigh injury, Norrie produced the performance of his life to fire 60 winners on his way to a 4-6 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory that drew Leon Smith's team level.
Earlier in the day, despite a brave effort from British no 4 Liam Broady, he slipped to a 6-3 6-4 7-6 defeat to Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the opening rubber, leaving Norrie with a battle on his hands against Bautista Agut, the world no 23 and winner of seven ATP Tour titles.
The writing looked to be on the wall for Norrie before a tiring Bautista Agut sought a medical time-out and Norrie pounced to record a memorable victory ahead of tomorrow's crucial doubles encounter.
Norrie broke three times in the third set and followed up with another pair of breaks in the fourth and fifth as a visibly wilting Bautista Agut had no response as he slipped to defeat which leaves the tie all square.
Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot now face Feliciano Lopez and Pablo Carreno Busta in Saturday's doubles rubber before the reverse singles on Sunday, where it remains to be seen whether Edmund could feature.
"I backed myself physically and mentally, it was pretty good of him not retiring but I wanted to keep the points physical and work him as hard as I could," Norrie told the BBC after his victory.
"I talked to Kyle Edmund a lot on how to manage the energy, you have to pick your points and he is very good at that. I'm a good runner and had to back myself the whole way.
"The fans helped and in the fifth set I went to serve and there was hell of a noise."
