Britain draw Poland in Davis Cup relegation play-off

Great Britain will face Poland in a Davis Cup play-off as Leon Smith’s side aim to avoid relegation from the top tier of the competition.

An underpowered GB side, missing British No 1 Jack Draper, lost 3-2 to Japan in the qualifying phase in January, forcing them into the World Group I play-off draw.

Britain, seeded fourth, have drawn unseeded Poland and will face an away tie, with the winners to progress to the qualifying phase in early 2026 and earn a chance to compete in the eight-team Davis Cup Finals next year.

GB last reached the Finals in 2023 with a team that included Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, and Andy Murray. They exited in the last eight to a Novak Djokovic-led Serbian team.

Poland are likely to be helmed by Hubert Hurkacz, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist who has been ranked as high as sixth in the world.

Like the qualifying phase, the play-offs will be best-of-five, with each match best-of-three sets. A total of 26 nations are contesting 13 home or away ties. Poland, as the host nation, will choose the dates of their tie with Britain, either 12-13 or 13-14 September.

Draper was out of action in the qualifier against Japan with a hip injury that derailed his off-season, while British No 2 Norrie also sat out the tie, leaving world No 81 Jacob Fearnley as the highest-ranked player in the squad.