The Davis Cup qualification tie of Great Britain against Japan is a “great opportunity” for others in the absence of Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie, said Captain Leon Smith.
The world number 77 Jacob Fearnley is the best classified Briton of the team during his first call to the team.
Faarnley of Scotland, who had a Dazzlingly in 2024, is joined by Billy Harris and specialists in double Joe Salisbury and Neil Skupski.
The British number one drapery has chosen to miss the draw to continue his rehabilitation of a hip injury, while Norrie retire with illness.
Norrie’s replacement, Jan Chointeki, is also sick and was replaced by number 388 Giles Hussey.
Henry Patten, who won the Double title to the Australian Open Male With Harri Heliovaara, is also absent.
The Englishman Harris will face the world’s number 63 in Japan Yoshihito Nishioka in the first match at 4:00 am GMT Friday, before Fearnley faced the 2014 US Open finalist Kei Nishikori.
“We would have loved having (cam) here, but I think it’s an excellent opportunity for others,” said Smith.
“I have already seen it in the past in the links where we have not had our best players there – it is time for others to seize this opportunity, to win or lose and learn them.”
The victory in Miki would see the Smith team qualify for the second qualification round in September, where they would face Germany or Israel for a place in the final of eight teams in November.
Fearnley reached the third round of the Australian Open earlier in January, losing against the possible finalist Alexander Zverev.
It was not classified in August 2023 but finished 2024 in the Top 100, after winning four titles in a row during the Challenger tour.
“You can see with your eye what he has,” Smith told BBC Scotland.
βHe has weapons in his game which can raise him in the ranking. He has a big hit, a lot of speed, a lot of rhythm that can hurt the opponents.
“There are fields for sure that he will have to improve. But there are qualities in his game which will allow him to progress as we think.”
