Jack Draper’s much-anticipated return to action for Great Britain in the Davis Cup was marred by a defeat to Argentina, casting a shadow over the team’s campaign. The US Open semi-finalist, who had been a pivotal figure in Great Britain’s recent success, was unable to turn the tide in Manchester as he lost to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets. The final scores were 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, in a match that lasted just over two hours, highlighting the challenging nature of the encounter.
Draper’s match against Cerundolo followed closely on the heels of his impressive run at the US Open, where he reached the semi-finals. Despite his recent high-profile clash with Jannik Sinner, the eventual US Open champion, Draper found himself unable to replicate his previous form against the Argentine player. The result, combined with an earlier loss by Dan Evans to Tomas Martin Etcheverry, left Great Britain trailing 2-0 in the Davis Cup Finals tie.
The loss meant that Great Britain missed a crucial opportunity to secure a spot in the Davis Cup ‘Final Eight’. With Argentina already holding a decisive lead, the remaining hope for the team rested on their final Group D match against the 2022 champions, Canada, scheduled for Sunday. The group remains intensely competitive, with any of the four nations in contention for the top two spots that will advance to the tournament final in Malaga, which will take place from November 19-24.
Great Britain’s earlier match in their Davis Cup campaign saw them secure a narrow 2-1 victory over Finland, with Draper’s replacement, Billy Harris, stepping up to play a crucial role. Harris’s performance allowed Draper some much-needed rest following his demanding run to the US Open semi-finals. However, this tie against Argentina presented a higher level of competition, and Draper appeared somewhat fatigued, struggling to match Cerundolo’s intensity.
Despite not showing visible signs of the strapping on his right thigh that had been present during his US Open run, Draper seemed to be battling residual fatigue. He was put on the back foot early in the match by a break in the third game of the first set. Although Draper managed to break back and level the score at 5-5, Cerundolo’s consistent performance ensured that he retained the lead throughout the tie-break. Draper’s inability to seize critical moments, including missing three break points at 4-4 in the second set, ultimately led to his downfall.
The defeat to Cerundolo was compounded by Dan Evans’ earlier loss to the consistent Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Evans, who had been preferred over Harris for the second singles match, struggled to find his rhythm against Etcheverry. The combined effect of these losses left Great Britain in a precarious position, needing to secure a win in their final group match to advance further in the tournament.
As the Davis Cup campaign progresses, Great Britain’s focus will shift to their upcoming clash with Canada. The team will need to regroup and deliver a strong performance to secure a top-two finish in their group and advance to the final stages of the tournament. The ability to overcome this setback and bounce back will be crucial for Great Britain’s aspirations in the Davis Cup and their hopes of making a significant impact in the final stages of the competition.
Read about Liverpool’s perfect start in the next article.