Despite starting the day undefeated in their group in the 2023 Davis Cup Finals, Great Britain barely survived, having to save 4 match points in a crucial doubles match.
Great Britain defeated both Australia and Switzerland ahead of their final clash with France but still wasn't safe as they needed to beat France on the final day due to how the other results turned out. France would be secure with a win against Great Britain, and they nearly pulled it off.
The first match of the day saw Daniel Evans come back from a set and break down to defeat rising star Arthur Fils, giving Great Britain the lead. Cameron Norrie was nominated for the second match in spite of being in terrible form for a very long time.
Some questioned whether Jack Draper should have gotten the nod, and when Ugo Humbert bested Norrie, it certainly looked like the wrong decision. That meant that the doubles would decide, and it was a very interesting match. On one side, we had Evans and Neal Skupski; on the other, we had Nicolas Mahut and Eduard Roger-Vasselin.
The French team play together generally, so many assumed that they would have the edge, and after taking the opening set 6-1, it certainly looked like that. Cheered on by the crowd, Evans and Skupski pulled out the second set in a tiebreak 7-4, setting up the enormous final set.
It was a good one, as neither team really had any chances early. Both teams were locked in and focused, though at 5-4 in the final set, the French pairing had three consecutive match points. Evans proved the hero once more with some amazing serving, and the match continued.
It ended in another tiebreak, and despite taking an early mini-break, France managed to battle back and secure a match point. They didn't convert it, adding it to the pile of wasted chances, and it proved costly as Great Britain ultimately won the tiebreak 8-6.
Andy Murray said a few days ago that Great Britain could win the event and the dream is certainly alive.
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