A BUDDING young tennis player rubbed shoulders with some of the country’s best after stepping onto the court at the Davis Cup.

Ben Krievs met Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie and Uzbekistan’s Sanjar Fayziev, ranked 516 in the world, at the net for the crucial fourth match in the international competition in Glasgow on Sunday.

Ben’s mum, Emer, told the Courier her son was a keen tennis player and was delighted to be involved.

She said: “He met the players and the referee and then had to do the coin toss. They introduced him over the tannoy and said how he had been playing since he was five years old. He plays for Dunbar Tennis Club and the East Lothian squad.

“They asked who was his favourite player is, which is Andy Murray.

“Cameron Norrie played against the Uzbek player and then Ben got pictures taken with Jamie Murray (six-time Grand Slam winner) and Dan Evans (Britain’s number four, who played on Friday) and got some signed tennis balls.

“Ben was pleased about that and was able to watch Cameron Norrie win the match.

“He was quite excited and nervous as well. It is quite a big deal, with a big crowd and big stadium.

“He was really pleased with himself and had practised to toss the coin and make sure he did not muck it up.”

Nine-year-old Ben, who plays alongside his big brother Luke, was nominated for the role by coaches Thomas Swan and Kevin Duffy, from the East Lothian tennis squad.

The youngster has been playing since he was just five years old.

The two coaches put the Dunbar Primary School pupil forward because of his good attitude and commitment to the sport.

The trip to Glasgow’s Emirates Arena, where Great Britain won 3-1 with Norrie, ranked 70 in the world, winning 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 to settle the encounter, gave Ben a taste of the big time, with the youngster playing in the East Lothian Open earlier this summer.

His mum added: “He found it quite inspiring.”

“Just to meet the players was inspiring and the whole atmosphere was very exciting.”