Marbella | Spain defeat Britain

Spain progressed to the 2018 Davis Cup World Group quarter finals today when Albert Ramos-Vinolas finally quelled the spirited challenge of British debutant Cameron Norrie 7-6(4), 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 after just under three and three quarter hours of gripping action at Marbella’s Puente Romano Tennis Club. Spain’s quarter final opponents will be Germany who overcame Australia by three rubbers to one in Brisbane.

Ramos-Vinolas got off to a flying start in the first of today’s scheduled reverse singles rubbers, leading 4-0 and 5-1 before the gallant Norrie stormed back to force a tiebreak. The Spanish player took it by seven points to four, but Norrie, undeterred, took the second set 6-2 to level things up. The strain now showed on the home man’s face, and that of his captain Sergi Bruguera, but after winning the third set on another tie-break, again by 7-4, Ramos-Vinolas began to play with the confidence befitting his world ranking of 21, closing out the rubber and the tie at 6-2 in the fourth set.

The dead fifth rubber was not played, and Great Britain will now face a play-off from 14 to 16 September to retain her place in the World Group.