Norrie on a huge high with shock win
Davis Cup debutant Cameron Norrie hailed “the best day of his career” after hitting back from two sets down to upset Roberto Bautista Agut.
The world No 114 levelled the World Group first-round tie at 1-1 following a stirring display for Great Britain in Marbella yesterday.
He trailed by two sets and was 3-1 down to Spain’s world No 23 before roaring back to win 4-6 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 in his first ever match on clay.
“It’s 100 per cent the best day of my career,” Norrie said.
“I was nervous and had a streak in the second set where I couldn’t get a serve but I pulled it together.
“Thanks to my team, they gave me great energy. I thought I was tougher and physically I had some problems but I played it point by point. I managed to pull it together and keep Great Britain in the tie. It gave me a lot of confidence because it was my first match on clay.” Norrie broke three times in the third set and twice in the fourth and fifth and Bautista Agut had no response with the Briton hitting 60 winners – twice as many as his rival. Norrie outfought Bautista Agut, who began to suffer with a thigh problem in the fourth set. GB captain Leon Smith said: “It’s amazing to see Cam, as a rookie, a debutant, actually wear the opponent down. We’ve had a lot of good moments in the Davis Cup and this is one of them right now.”
The hosts led 1-0 after Liam Broady lost 6-3 6-4 7-6 (8-6) to Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot now face Feliciano Lopez and Pablo Carreno Busta in this afternoon’s doubles rubber.