Davis Cup Qualifiers 2025: Great Britain vs Japan - results & updates

Match five: Nishikori beats Harris to book spot in Qualifiers second round

Great Britain have missed out on the chance to reach the Davis Cup Qualifiers second round after Billy Harris lost to Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-3 in the deciding rubber.

Harris put in a valiant performance against a spirited Nishikori, who was on the hunt for his 22^nd Davis Cup victory for Japan. The former US Open finalist was first out the blocks in the deciding rubber – channelling all the energy from the home crowd to quickly open up a 4-1 lead over the Brit.

Despite trailing, Harris soaked up the pressure from Nishikori in his service games but an inch-perfect backhand return from the former world No.4 kissed the baseline to seal a second break and the first set for Japan.

With Britain’s hopes resting on a knifes edge, the British No.4 fought hard to stay close to Nishikori in the second. After conceding another break, Harris was handed a lifeline as he found himself up 40-0 on the Japanese star’s serve. However, the experience of Nishikori ultimately prevailed as he won five points on the bounce before eventually sealing the victory for Japan, and his 300^th win on a hard court, at the first time of asking.

Match four: Great Britain taken to a decider after Fearnley falls short

We’re heading into a deciding rubber in Miki after Jacob Fearnley narrowly lost out to Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 7-6(0) in an hour and 38 minutes.

Following his dream Davis Cup debut on Friday, Fearnley was eager to pick up where he left off on Saturday morning and secure his nation’s spot in the next round.

The 23-year-old Brit caught sight of an opening in the fifth game of the match, but failed to convert either of his chances as Nishioka escaped unscathed.

Throughout the match, the Japanese star kept asking the question of the Briton by forcing him to play an extra ball, and the pressure eventually paid off as he found the breakthrough to take the set.

Riding the wave of momentum, the world No.67 sprinted to an early break in the second but an uncharacteristically loose service game allowed Fearnley an entryway back into the match as we headed to a tie-break.

A fifth double fault of the match on the first point set the tone for a tough tie-break for the Rothesay Open champion, as Nishioka won seven points on the bounce to close out his eight Davis Cup win in a row for Japan.

Great Britain's fate will now rest in the hands of Billy Harris who is set to take on Kei Nishikori.

Match three: Skupski & Salisbury clinch victory to edge Brits ahead

The Brits returned to action for day two of the Davis Cup Qualifier against Japan, where doubles duo Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski put the Lexus GB team one win away following a 7-6(4), 7-6(2) victory over Yosuke Watanuki and Takeru Yuzuki.

It was a testing match for Skupski and Salisbury who are still in the early days of their partnership – but that made the win all the more rewarding.

There were few chances for either team in the opening set. Some solid serving from the Japanese duo saw them be rewarded with plenty of free points thanks to eight aces, while the Brits dropped just two points behind their first serve in the opener (24/26).

Skupski and Salisbury applied the pressure when they could – ultimately forging the only two break points of the set but were forced to settle for a tie-break. While it was Watanuke and Takeru who broke the British serve first, the former world No.1s responded well as they broke back three times to take the set.

It was a similar story in the second, although this time it was the Japanese pair who conjured up two break points, but they were unable to take either chance as we moved into a second successive tie-break where Skupski and Salisbury sealed the match at the first attempt to give Great Britain the advantage.

Match two: Fearnley wins on debut against former world No.4 to level tie

Davis Cup debuts don't get much better than that, as Jacob Fearnley wins his first match for Great Britain after beating Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-3.

With the scoreboard locked at 1-1, it's all to play for heading into the final day of the Qualifier first round.

"Very happy with how I played, it was a great match," Fearnley said in his on-court interview. "I loved playing in front of all the fans that came to watch and I feel good to get a win for Great Britain.

“I knew I had to play really well, knowing how good a player Kei is and how good he’s been on the tour for so many years I knew I had to play a perfect match on serve and do as much as I could to make balls in the court and luckily I had one of those days today."

Making his Davis Cup debut - Fearnley looked comfortable playing infront of a packed out crowd at the Bourbon Beans Dome in Miki.

The British No.3 shook off any signs of nerves against the former world No.4 as he quickly edged ahead to a 3-1 lead.

Fearnley, who was playing his first match since reaching the third round at the Australian Open, proved tough to break down on serve - dropping just four points across the opening set.

With his nose edged ahead and the confidence flowing, Fearnley backed up a hold to love by breaking the 34-year-old Japanese star at the last opportunity to take a one set lead inside 43 minutes.

Gunning to bite back and level the scoreboard, Nishikori dealt the first blow in the second but the 23-year-old Brit responded immediately to the setback, before going on to break the 12-time ATP titlist a second time to take control of the match.

Stepping up to the baseline to serve for his first Davis Cup win for Great Britain, Fearnley coolly and calmly delivered his fourth love hold of the match, ensuring the Brits remained in contention heading into match day two in Japan.

Match one: Nishioka gives Japan an early lead with victory over Harris 

Japan have given themselves an early lead in their Qualifier first round over the Lexus GB team after Yoshihito Nishioka earned a 7-5, 6-1 win over Billy Harris.

"I started the match well," Harris reflected. "I was on a good rhythm with my service game and definitely had some chances in the first set but I didn't manage to take any.

"He (Nishioka) played a good match - he was very solid and the difference between the first and second set was my service games."

It was a competitive start to the tie, with both players looking to get their nations off to a winning start. However, in just the third game of the match Harris found himself with an early opportunity after Nishioka produced a double fault to push the Brit to a 40-15 lead.

While the Japanese star managed to stave off one of the break points, he coughed up his second double fault of the service game to gift Harris the breakthrough.

The pair continued to share exchanges from the baseline as the Brit attempted to maintain his early lead, but an inspired Nishioka managed to work his way back into the game at 3-2 down to catch sight of two break back points.

A sublime forehand winner down the line made it third time lucky for the world No.67 who roared in delight as he drew back level.

Fired up after staving off the pressure from the Brit, Nishioka sprinted ahead to a 40-0 lead a on Harris' serve at 6-5 before a thunderous forehand return saw him seal the opening set for Japan.

Into the second set and Harris struggled to break the momentum of the 29-year-old. The  big-serving Brit began to struggle in his service games - winning just 41% (7/17) of points in the second set.

The world No.67 capitalised on his opponent's struggles and fuelled him on to win five games on the bounce before closing out the victory with an ace on his third match point.