Kei Nishikori fired a warning shot ahead of next season's Davis Cup after Japan completed a comprehensive 5-0 win over hapless Ukraine in a World Group playoff on Sunday.
Taro Daniel and Yoshihito Nishioka each earned another singles win for Japan at Utsubo Tennis Center after a rain delay of almost three hours, defeating Artem Smirnov (3-6, 7-5, 6-1) and Danylo Kalenichenko (6-2, 6-2), respectively.
Nishikori was not on call Sunday after his doubles victory with Yuichi Sugita a day earlier sealed Japan's place in the 2017 World Group, and was more than happy to see Daniel and Nishioka put the finishing touches on a successful weekend for the host nation.