Arthur Fery’s return to competition on home soil marked a triumphant moment as he led Great Britain to a commanding 2-0 lead over Ecuador in their Davis Cup qualifier tie held at the Copper Box Arena. Fery, the British No 1 and a Wimbledon semi-finalist, defeated Álvaro Guillén Meza with a score of 7-5, 6-0.

The opening match featured a promising debut from Toby Samuel, who stepped in for the injured Cameron Norrie. Samuel overcame a shaky start to secure a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory against Andrés Andrade, setting the tone for the day.

With this successful start, Great Britain stands just one win away from advancing to the Davis Cup Final 8, scheduled for November 18-23 in Bologna.

Fery expressed his excitement, stating, "You get goosebumps walking out... It was great playing here in London. A lot of support from everyone." He acknowledged the unique pressure of the Davis Cup, emphasizing his confidence in carrying the responsibility for the team.

Looking ahead, Great Britain will rely on its formidable doubles team, featuring world No 1 Henry Patten and Neal Skupski, the recent US Open champion, to secure the tie on Sunday.

Despite Ecuador's previous success, including a 3-1 win against Australia, the home team was favored to win, especially against an Ecuadorian squad lacking players in the top 200. Samuel's rapid rise from outside the top 1,600 to a career-high ranking of No 95 highlights his impressive development, contributing to his first Davis Cup call-up.

Fery faced initial challenges against Guillén Meza but found his rhythm, ultimately winning the last eight games to clinch the match and extend Great Britain's lead.