Nice Britain face a Davis Cup relegation play-off after dropping their first-round tie 3-2 towards Japan.
With the tie stage at 1-1 after Friday’s opening day, Britain took the lead when Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury gained Saturday’s opening rubber 7-6 7-6 towards Yosuke Watanuki and Takeru Yuzuki.
However Jacob Fearnley, who beat former international quantity 4 Kei Nishikori on Friday, used to be overwhelmed 6-3 7-6 by means of Yoshihito Nishioka to pressure a decider.
The skilled Nishikori, 35, then cruised previous Billy Harris 6-2 6-3 in an hour and quarter-hour to seal victory for the hosts in Miki, Japan.
“Dropping is tricky, however I will’t fault the efforts of the 4 gamers right here over the past two days and for that topic the entire week,” mentioned GB captain Leon Smith. “They have been nice to paintings with, they gave the entirety they may at the fit court docket. You win some, you lose some.”
An green GB aspect had been with out British primary Jack Draper on account of a hip harm, whilst British quantity two Cameron Norrie withdrew via sickness.
They want to win their relegation play-off tie in September to stick within the best international crew subsequent season.
