World No. 5 Kei Nishikori revealed Saturday that his schedule has dissuaded him from playing in Japan's Davis Cup fixture against France in February.
The World Group first-round tie will be held at Ariake Tennis Forest Park from Feb. 3 to 5, but Nishikori is scheduled to play in South American clay-court tournaments that month.
"It's going to be tough in terms of my schedule, and also taking my physical condition into account, I decided not take part."
Nishikori is currently in Melbourne for the Australian Open, the season's first Grand Slam. His first-round match against 48th-ranked Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia is slated for Monday morning at 11 a.m.
"There are many areas where I'll need to be careful against him," said Nishikori, who was runner-up last Sunday at the Brisbane International, but needed some days to rest after feeling pain in his left glutes.
"It's something I feel once in a while. I'm not that worried about it."
Nishikori will be joined in the men's draw by compatriot Go Soeda, who advanced through qualifying and will face Tunisia's Malek Jaziri in the first round.
In the women's draw, Eri Hozumi qualified for her first Grand Slam. She will join women's world No. 47 Naomi Osaka who will be trying to continue her impressive rise in the game after reaching the third round in all three of her Grand Slam appearances last year.