Patten and Skupski take Great Britain past Ecuador to reach Davis Cup Final 8

By the Editorial Team · Monday, September 21, 2026

Great Britain defeated Ecuador 3-0 at the Copper Box Arena to secure a spot in the Davis Cup Final 8, highlighted by a dominant doubles win from Henry Patten and Neal Skupski. This marks their first advancement since 2023 and demonstrates the team's depth despite key player absences, setting them up for the finals in Bologna this November.

Great Britain secured a place in the Davis Cup Final 8 after a commanding 3-0 victory over Ecuador at the Copper Box Arena in London on Saturday. The British team’s success was sealed by a strong doubles performance from world No. 1 Henry Patten and US Open doubles champion Neal Skupski, who defeated Ecuador’s Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo 6-3, 6-4.

The tie began positively for Great Britain, with singles wins from British No. 1 Arthur Fery and No. 5 Toby Samuel, both overcoming challenging starts before asserting control to close out their matches. These victories set the foundation for the doubles pair to finish the tie and secure the overall win.

In just their second outing as partners, Patten and Skupski quickly took control of the doubles match in the fast indoor conditions, characterized by few break opportunities. The British duo broke serve early with aggressive returns, highlighted by three successful lobs, including one notable backhand lob from Skupski on a break point. This early momentum proved decisive, allowing them to maintain their service games without facing a break point.

Despite their lower rankings compared to the British pair, the Ecuadorian team brought a strong challenge, having previously upset Australia in February. However, as tension mounted late in the second set, the Ecuadorians faltered. Skupski secured a crucial break with a forehand return winner before Patten confidently closed the match on serve.

This victory advances Great Britain to the Davis Cup Final 8 for the first time since 2023. The final stage will be held between November 24 and 29 in Bologna, Italy. The British team’s depth was evident throughout the tie, especially given the absence of key singles players Jack Draper, sidelined by a long-term injury, and Cameron Norrie, who withdrew shortly before the tie.

Other notable results from the weekend included an impressive 3-2 win by the Czech Republic over the United States, despite US Open finalist Ben Shelton’s presence, and Canada’s victory over France in front of a large crowd in Quebec, led by Félix Auger-Aliassime.

With five British players currently ranked inside the ATP top 100, Great Britain’s qualification underscores the team’s collective strength and adaptability as they look ahead to the concluding stages of the Davis Cup.

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