Davis Cup 2024: Five-strong squad announced for Group Stages in Manchester
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Lexus Great Britain Davis Cup Team captain and LTA Head of Men’s Tennis, Leon Smith, has announced his squad to head to the Davis Cup Finals at the Manchester AO Arena from 10-15 September.
The Lexus Davis Cup Team is currently made up of five players including British No.1 and reigning Boss Open champion Jack Draper, Dan Evans, Billy Harris and doubles stars Henry Patten and Neal Skupski.
- Jack Draper (world No.28)
- Billy Harris (world No.104)
- Dan Evans (world No.184)
- Henry Patten (Doubles – world No.12)
- Neal Skupski (Doubles – world No.19)
“The support in Manchester last year was incredible – the crowds turned out in record numbers and carried us over the line in a tight and dramatic final day." said Smith. "We’ve got a really strong team once again and I’m sure it’s going to be another special week in Manchester in September.”
Great Britain have been drawn in Group D and are set to face 2022 champions Canada, Finland and Argentina in a bid to reach back-to-back Davis Cup Finals in Malaga (2 November).
The Lexus GB team will compete on Wednesday 11, Friday 13 and Sunday 15 September, with each tie consisting of two singles and one doubles rubber.
Davis Cup Finals Group Stages: Match schedule
- Tuesday 10 September: Canada vs Argentina
- Wednesday 11 September: Great Britain vs Finland
- Thursday 12 September: Canada vs Finland
- Friday 13 September: Great Britain vs Argentina
- Saturday 14 September: Finland vs Argentina
- Sunday 15 September: Great Britian vs Canada
Tickets for the Davis Cup start from £5 for under 18s and £10 for adults. Buy your tickets now at the link below:
Here’s some more info on the Lexus GB Davis Cup Team:
Jack Draper
- Age: 22
- Ranking: 28
- Davis Cup ties played: 2
- Davis Cup record: 1-1
Draper will head to Manchester off the back of a breakthrough grass court season. The 22-year-old claimed a career-first ATP title at the Boss Open before defeating Carlos Alcaraz on his way to the quarter-finals of the cinch Championships. Last time out in Manchester marked a dream Davis Cup debut for Draper, after he secured a vital win for the Brits against Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis. Now hailed as the new British No.1, Draper will be looking to guide the Brits to another trip to the Finals.
Find out more about Jack Draper
Billy Harris
- Age: 29
- Ranking: 104
- Davis Cup ties played: N/A
- Davis Cup record: N/A
Harris has received his first Davis Cup call up off the back of a standout summer on the grass that has led him to skyrocket up the ATP rankings. The British No.3 reached the semi-finals at the Lexus Surbiton Trophy and Rothesay Open Nottingham before going on to reach his first ATP 500 quarter-final at the cinch Championships and the final four at the Rothesay International Eastbourne.
The 29-year-old has made a smooth transition to the hard courts after he came through qualifying to reach the main draw at the Atlanta Open and reached the final qualifying round at the US Open. With a big serve and deadly forehand, Harris is set to be a reliable option in Smith’s team ahead of this year’s Group Stages.
Find out more about Billy Harris
Dan Evans
- Age: 34
- Ranking: 184
- Davis Cup ties played: 25
- Davis Cup record: 16-21
Entering as the most experience Davis Cup player in the squad, Evans knows exactly what it takes to win the coveted trophy. A part of the 2015 squad who brought home Britain’s first Davis Cup title in 79-years, Evans’ has represented his country at an astonishing 25 ties. Having secured 16 wins for GB, Evans produced one of his best efforts last year when he teamed up with Neal Skupski for the deciding doubles rubber against France. The pair produced one of the all-time Davis Cup comebacks to defeat Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 1-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(6).
Henry Patten
- Age: 28
- Ranking: 12 - doubles
- Davis Cup ties played: N/A
- Davis Cup record: N/A
Reigning Wimbledon men’s doubles champion Patten comes in as the second Davis Cup debutant in Manchester. Back in April, the 28-year-old joined forces with Finland’s Harri Heliovaara – a player the Brits’ will likely face in the Group Stages – with the pair going on to earn two ATP titles in Marrakech and Lyon. However, their biggest accomplishment yet came at this year’s Championships at Wimbledon where they got their hands around the coveted crown to mark their first major title.
Patten’s dominance on the doubles court in recent months places him as a perfect weapon in the British side as they bid to reach the Final 8 in Malaga.
Find out more about Henry Patten
Neal Skupski
- Age: 34
- Ranking: 19
- Davis Cup ties played: 11
- Davis Cup record: 7-4
Former doubles world No.1 Skupski will be Manchester bound again for this year’s Group Stages, where he’ll arrive in fine form. The grass court season saw Skupski hit his best form of the season so far, as he teamed up with New Zealand’s Michael Venus to lift back-to-back titles at the cinch Championships and Rothesay International Eastbourne. The 2023 Group Stages saw Skupski join forces with Evans to win two out of their three doubles rubbers and will be a reliable weapon in Smith’s arsenal later this year.