Nice Britain’s Davis Cup qualifying tie in opposition to Japan is a “nice alternative” for others within the absence of Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie, says captain Leon Smith.
World quantity 77 Jacob Fearnley is the highest-ranked Briton within the squad in his first call-up to the workforce.
Scotland’s Fearnley, who had a meteoric rise in 2024, is joined by Billy Harris and doubles specialists Joe Salisbury and Neil Skupski.
British primary Draper has opted to overlook the tie to proceed his rehabilitation from a hip harm, whereas Norrie withdrew with sickness.
Norrie’s alternative, Jan Choinski, can also be in poor health and has been changed by world quantity 388 Giles Hussey.
Henry Patten, who gained the Australian Open males’s doubles title with Harri Heliovaara, can also be absent.
Englishman Harris will face Japan’s world quantity 63 Yoshihito Nishioka within the first match at 04:00 GMT on Friday, earlier than Fearnley faces 2014 US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori.
“We’d have beloved to have had [Cam] right here, however I believe it is an ideal alternative for the others,” Smith stated.
“I’ve seen it earlier than prior to now within the ties once we have not had our high gamers there – it is time for others to take that chance, win or lose, and be taught from it.”
Victory in Miki would see Smith’s workforce advance to the second spherical of qualifying in September, the place they might face both Germany or Israel for a spot in November’s eight-team Finals.
