JACK DRAPER will lead Great Britain’s team at the Davis Cup Finals group stage in Manchester in September, it was announced today.

The 22-year-old, who rose to a career-high ranking of 26 in the world today, is joined in the team by Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski.

Great Britain will take on Canada, Finland and Argentina at Manchester Arena from September 10-15, with the top two teams from the group progressing to the Final Eight event in Malaga in November.

Draper made his debut in the group stage last year, edging to a three-set victory over Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis, but was left out of the crunch match against France, where Evans and Skupski eventually secured a nail-biting victory in the deciding doubles.

A record crowd for the competition in Britain of 13,000 watched the contest, and captain Leon Smith said: “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. 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.”

Britain were eliminated in the quarter-finals in Malaga by Serbia last autumn after Draper lost to Miomir Kecmanovic and Norrie was beaten by Novak Djokovic.