After a five-month layoff with a seriously bruised bone in his left arme, Jack Draper has successfully eased himself back into the competitive arena by giving Team Gb a great start to their 2026 Davis Cup campaign.

I haven’t played Davis Cup in a long time so it’s good to be out here and I’m proud of my performance today Jack Draper

The British team is in Oslo facing the Norwegians in a first-round qualifying tie which by the end of the first day’s play, the visitors had established a 2-0 lead.

Draper opened the play against Viktor Durasovic whom he defeated comfortably in 59-minutes, 6-2 6-2.

In the match he served well and moved about the court with ease as he dominated a player ranked 300 places below him for a confidence building win.

“It’s really good to play here in Oslo and have my first match in a long time,” Draper said in his on-court interview. “To get a point on the board for Great Britain. I haven’t played Davis Cup in a long time so it’s good to be out here and I’m proud of my performance today.”

Later the 24-year-old told the BBC “Tennis is a bubble, and sometimes you can get distracted that it’s all that matters in life.

“When you have time out, I used it wisely I think to try and make sure that when I try and come back to tennis, that I’m ready to go all the way again.”

“I’m confident that I’m on a really good path. I’m winning by being here.”

The British No.1, currently ranked 13, showed very few signs of rust, dropping just 10 points on serve and hitting eight aces in the process.

He was only taken to deuce once and that was at 5-2 in the second set as Durasovic bravely attempted to turn the tide.

But there was no way he could having been outclassed throughout the match by the power and the Brits speed about the court.

Having admitted prior to the tie that he had experienced “lots of dark places” during his lay-off with an injury which came when he was riding high in the rankings.

“I definitely have to be wary of how the injury is progressing,” Draper agreed when asked how arm had felt during the match.

“I wouldn’t be back playing again if I and my team weren’t really confident that I can start to build back on the tour again.

“I definitely have to be sensible at times.”

Cameron Norrie plays a forehand on the second match against Nicolai Budkov Kjaer

. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images for ITF)

Cameron Norrie then wrapped up the day’s play with a gritty performance to prevent the Norwegians levelling the tie.

The British No.2 beat the exciting teenager Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 6-4 6-4 in one-hour and 23-minutes to make it 2-0.

Norrie came back from a 4-1 second-set deficit to see off world number 133 Budkov Kjaer, 19 and a former Wimbledon junior champion.

“It was an amazing start for Jack – it’s not easy to come back from that injury he’s had and to play a match where he’s a big favourite”, Norrie said. “He was really calm, he played really well and he enjoyed it – that gave me a lot of confidence to come out and play free.”

Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash can wrap up the best-of-five tie for Britain at the earliest opportunity if they triumph in Friday’s doubles.

If not, Draper and Norrie will have to take to the court again for the reverse singles.

The winner of the tie in Oslo will face either Australia or Ecuador for a place in November’s eight-team Finals.