Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool avoided a major scare to triumph in the doubles and propel Great Britain into the final round of Davis Cup qualifying with a 3-0 victory over Norway.
Wimbledon champions Cash and Glasspool were heavy favorites against inexperienced duo Viktor Durasovic and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, ranked 491st and 1,187th respectively in doubles.
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The pair raced throughout the first set but got completely lost in the second in an entertaining encounter in Oslo.
Cash and Glasspool then held on to finally win 6-2 2-6 7-6 (7-5).
After Cash produced a service winner to secure the victory, he began to return to the baseline, with all players thinking it was a 10-point tiebreak.
However, the referee intervened to confirm that Great Britain had completed the best of five games at the first opportunity.
Returners Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie beat Durasovic and Budkov Kjaer respectively in singles action on Thursday to put Leon Smith’s team in a strong position.
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Great Britain will face Ecuador or Australia later in the year for a place in November’s eight-team final.
Aside from the brief wobble in the doubles, Great Britain won comfortably against a weakened Norway, without world number 12 Casper Ruud after the birth of his first child.
Draper looked in good shape in his first singles match since August last year, although he will continue to monitor the bone bruises in his serving arm that sidelined him for six months.
Norrie was as reliable and courageous as ever, while Cash and Glasspool combined well against a dynamic Norwegian side.
The doubles was the most entertaining match of the encounter, with promising teenager Budkov Kjaer hitting some brilliant shots from the back of the court.
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Glasspool was supreme on serve throughout, while Cash recovered well from being broken in his two service games in the second set.
Cash and Glasspool missed both of their break chances in the third set, thanks in large part to Budkov Kjaer’s superb recovery skills.
However, world number two Glasspool and third Cash prevailed in a cautious tie-break – despite the points system being momentarily forgotten.
