Great Britain through to quarter-finals of 2023 Davis Cup after defiant doubles display

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Great Britain beat France to make 2023 Davis Cup quarter-final

Great Britain have made it through to the last eight of the 2023 Davis Cup after a defiant display in Sunday’s closing doubles match which saw them secure a spot in the quarter-finals this Winter.

GB‘s team made a trio of 2-1 wins in the group stages of this year’s Finals after beating Australia, Switzerland and now France in dramatic fashion.

Tensions were bubbling all day long with both nations giving as good as they got and Andy Murray kicking out in frustration, but it made for a frenetic and hugely enjoyable day of tennis in Manchester — a whole nine hours, to be specific.

Although British number two Dan Evans managed to win from a set and a breakdown in his singles match, Cam Norrie couldn’t make it past Ugo Humbert, so it was left to Evans and Skupski to put Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin to the sword. It wasn’t easy but what a magnificent performance.

Britain could afford nothing less than a victory if they were to qualify for the ‘Final 8’ in Malaga in November and despite being blown away in the first set, the 13-000 strong crowd inside the AO Arena helped spur on the comeback.

There were some genuinely ridiculous points played by the two Brits throughout, who had to do some serious defending in the final set, where they saved four match points at the brink.

Managing an arduous 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (8-6) victory in the end, it’s fair to say the nerves were a bit shot, with team captain Leon Smith telling reporters: “It was bonkers. I don’t know what we’ve all sat through for nine hours.”

Here are the celebrations after all was said and done:

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Britain finished as the winners of Group B overall and will now play either Serbia or Italy when the Final 8 draw is made on Tuesday.

This year is the first time the tournament has been in Manchester since 1994 and has seen record attendance figures both in this country and the competition as a whole.

Great Britain hasn’t won the Davis Cup since 2015 but they’re looking in fine form ahead of the knockouts in November.

Bring it home, lads.

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Featured Image — Dan Evans (via Instagram)