Cameron Norrie edged out as Great Britain beaten by Spain in Davis Cup

The 22-year-old left-hander showed remarkable grit against world No 21 Albert Ramos-Vinolas before bowing to a four-set defeat

The Briton put in a spirited display but it wasn't enough to save his team from defeat (Getty)

Cameron Norrie enhanced his growing reputation but could not prevent Great Britain losing to Spain in the first round of the Davis Cup.

The 22-year-old left-hander, who was born in South Africa and spent much of his childhood in New Zealand, showed remarkable grit against world No 21 Albert Ramos-Vinolas before bowing to a four-set defeat.

Their clash was on a knife edge heading into the third-set tie-break, but Ramos-Vinolas edged that and then swept convincingly through the fourth to soothe frayed Spanish nerves in Marbella.

He won 7-6 (7/4) 2-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-2, and Spain could celebrate a victory that few doubted they would achieve this weekend, given Andy Murray’s injury-enforced absence from the British ranks.

They secured an unassailable 3-1 lead in the tie, with Britain’s point having been won on Friday by Corrie with his stunning comeback win over Roberto Bautista Agut.

Great Britain captain Leon Smith said: “I can’t speak highly enough of what Cam’s done all weekend and yet again today.

“People might have thought it was a one-off what he produced on Friday, but he did it again today against another really high quality player.”

Norrie, who sits 114th in the world, gave 21st-ranked Ramos-Vinolas a torrid time for long stretches of the match.

Cameron Norrie in action during the second set (Getty)

“In both breakers anything can happen,” Smith said on BBC Two, “and he pushed him really close. I’m really, really proud of him.

“If he needs some sort of reference point to how far he can go, he got it this weekend. The only way is up for him.”

Spain move through to face Germany in the quarter-finals.

PA