HONOURS EVEN: Great Britain draw level on day one of Davis Cup after Norrie’s stunning comeback

GREAT BRITAIN pulled level with Spain at the Davis Cup 1^st  Round in sensational style as Cameron Norrie staged a dramatic comeback to beat Roberto Bautista Agut in five sets.

The world number 114, who was playing his first professional match on red clay, came from two sets down to beat the Spaniard in a 4-6 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory to level the Davis Cup World Opening round tie 1-1.

Speaking after the victory, the Brit told the media: “I was nervous and had a streak in the second set where I couldn’t get a serve but I pulled it together.

“I noticed he was struggling a little bit in the fourth set. I backed myself physically and mentally against the guy and I’m just chuffed to get through it. I wanted to keep the points physical and work as hard as I could.”

It all seemed to be going world number 23 Bautista Agut’s way in the second match of the day as he battled to an early two set lead.

And it seemed to be going the same way in the third as the Spaniard raced into a 3-0 lead at the beginning of the set.

But Norrie, ranked 91 places lower than his opponent, fought back hard and produced some outrageous shots on his way to winning six games in a row and securing the third set.

And Norrie kept fighting in the 4^th set, as he won 67 per cent of his first served and managed an astonishing 16 forehand  winners as he levelled the match.

The 22-year-old carried his momentum into the fifth and broke the Spaniard twice to cause an astonishing upset

Following the impressive victory, British Number One Andy Murray, absent through injury, tweeted his congratulations to Norrie.

The Scot said: “That’s one of the most amazing wins/results/upsets I’ve seen in a long time on a tennis court.

“Well done to Cam Norrie and all the team, Broady was excellent too.”

“Well done to Cam Norrie and all the team, Broady was excellent too.”

That’s one of the most amazing wins/results/upsets I’ve seen in a long time on a tennis court.. Well done to cam norrie and all the team.. Broady was excellent too ??????

— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) February 2, 2018

Speaking on the court, he said: “At two sets down you’re thinking just keep fighting, keep pride and passion. 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 Davis Cup and this is one of them right now.

“I’m almost a bit lost for words. All you ask for is that they give their best effort and fight like hell. Cam fully deserves every bit of praise he gets.”

Earlier in the day, Spain had taken the lead in the tie after Albert Ramos-Vinolas beat Liam Broady in straight sets, 6-3 6-4 7-6 (8-6).

The Brit performed well against Ramos-Vinolas, but was ultimately outplayed by the world number 21 on the red clay in Marbella.

The tie continues at Marbella’s Puente Romano Tennis Club tomorrow (Saturday) morning as Jamie Murray and Diominic Inglot face off against Feliciano Lopez and Pablo Carreno Busta in Saturday’s double runner.