The Davis Cup World Group is braced for a box office bust around the globe, with Australian Open victim Novak Djokovic the only member of the elite bothering to front up for play which begins on Friday. The number two Serb has been going through a half-year crisis of confidence - with some likely personal intrigue mixed in - and has had plenty of time to prepare. Djokovic crashed out in Melbourne almost a fortnight ago in the second round and has since kept a low profile. He will lead Serbia against visiting Russia into one of eight first-round ties. Djokovic had been leaving his options open as to whether he would appear in the small Serbian city of Nis for the tie. "I always look forward to playing in the Davis Cup because it's a very special feeling when we are all together," he said. "I'm convinced that Nis will be an excellent host and that we will be victorious in our clash with the Russians." Djokovic starred for his nation seven years ago as it won its lone Davis Cup title. The side is now guided by doubles king Nenad Zimonjic, still active on the ATP, who plans on picking himself for the team. But the absentees far out number the big-name participants as the increasingly erratic scheduling of the worldwide team competition places the start of 2017 play just five days after the history-making Melbourne final won by Roger Federer over Rafael Nadal. Those two legends are not involved due the sheer weight of effort over the past month on court in Australia. Switzerland will go in with a substitute side minus Federer and Stan Wawrinka against the US in Alabama while Nadal was replaced for Spain by Feliciano Lopez in the tie with Croatia. The Croatians are facing internal political problems of their own, with top man Marin Cilic unavailable, as is young Borna Coric. The Canada-Britain tie in Ottawa will be without both Andy Murray and Milos Raonic, with the Brit not bothering after his own Melbourne early-exit embarrassment and the Canadian suffering with his regular groin injury. A feud with captain Yannick Noak leaves Gael Monfils off of the French side facing Japan in Tokyo; the hosts are without Kei Nishikori, in dispute with his federation. David Goffin was a late pullout for Belgium in the Frankfurt tie against Germany while the Czechs are missing big man Tomas Berdych and opponent Australia are puzzled by the no-excuse withdrawal of Bernard Tomic. Captain Lleyton Hewitt is wondering if his one-time prodigy now has a future on the team while team-mate Nick Kyrgios added: "We're not going to beg guys to play but it's disappointing not having him here as there's no reason why he shouldn't be here."
