TOKYO, JAPAN: Go Soeda will be first up for the home fans in Friday's Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group play-off tie as he faces Dudi Sela in the opening rubber.
The two players have met three times on the Challenger circuit with Sela emerging victorious on each occasion. However it's Soeda who has the better Davis Cup record having lost just five of his 23 singles rubbers. Both players have represented their country in Davis Cup action since 2005.
World No. 16 Kei Nishikori and Amir Weintraub are second up on the opening day in what will be a first meeting for the two players. The Japanese No. 1 has lost just one of his last nine Davis Cup rubbers and comes into the tie off the back of a 3rd round finish at the US Open.
Japan are hoping to maintain their spot in the elite 16 for a second consecutive year while Israel are aiming for a return to the World Group for the first time since 2010.
Go Soeda (JPN) - 14/09/2012