Davis Cup rookie, Jacob Fearnley, from Edinburgh, believes team unity can help drive an injury-hit Great Britain side through a vital qualifying tie against Poland in Gdynia this weekend.
On the basis of rankings alone GB start favourites even with Jack Draper sidelined until next year with an arm problem.
But Fearnley says this is counter-balanced by having to travel.
“We have a higher ranked team but in Davis Cup that doesn’t really mean too much – especially in an away tie” says the British No 3 who will be featuring in singles alongside fellow Scot Cameron Norrie.
Fearnley added: “Also. we don’t really know anything about them.
“The way we are going to pull through is by competing, each playing our own games and supporting each other as a team.
“When, especially in an away tie, you don’t have the same amount of support from your home fans leaning on each team member and using it to get over the line is what is going to help us this week.”
The team are captained by Leon Smith, who is Edinburgh-based, and his side must win to progress to the first qualifying phase of the 2026 event and maintain their chances of reaching the eight-team finals this year.
“Away ties are always challenging, and Poland are a strong team,” Smith said, adding: “We are under no illusion it’s going to be a tough tie, but I think with our team we should go with confidence and do everything we can to win this important match.”
Great Britain find themselves in this position having lost 3-2 in Japan at the beginning of this year when Jacob Fearnley marked his debut with a straight sets win over former world No 4 Kei Nishikori.
