Novak Djokovic is set to play his first match since his second-round exit at the Australian Open, but the Serb is the only player in the Top 14 participating in the first round of the Davis Cup.
World No. 1 Andy Murray has been a regular presence for Britain in Davis Cup in recent years, winning the 2015 Davis Cup, but he will not be playing the tie against Canada following his fourth-round exit at the Australian Open. Canada will also not have its top player, No. 4 Milos Raonic, who experienced an injury during the Australian Open. Neither third-ranked Stan Wawrinka nor No. 10 Roger Federer is playing for Switzerland. The countrymen have rarely played the team competition since their 2014 Davis Cup victory.
No. 6 Rafael Nadal, who reached the final of the Australian Open, withdrew from Spain's tie, and 25th-ranked Spaniard David Ferrer—Spain’s second-highest-ranked player—is also not playing. No. 5 Kei Nishikori, who was also injured in Australia, will be sidelined for Japan.