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| - Twelve countries will this weekend qualify for the finals of the Davis Cup, the venerable 120-year-old team competition suddenly confronted with the global spread of a very modern deadly virus. Defending champions Spain, 2019 runners-up Canada, semi-finalists Great Britain and Russia, as well as wild cards France and Serbia, are already assured of their spots in the Madrid finals in November. However, the anticipation over the 12 qualifying ties on Friday and Saturday has been replaced by deepening concern over the coronavirus which has killed over 3,000 people in more than 60 countries. As a result, the tie between Japan and Ecuador in Miki will be played behind closed doors. Italy's clash at home to South Korea in Cagliari will also be off-limits to spectators. One tie has already fallen victim with China forfeiting their World Group play-off in Romania. Injury-hit Japan number one Kei Nishikori said Thursday he had failed to recover from an elbow injury and will sit out his country's tie. A depleted Japan will also be without world number 48 Yoshihito Nishioka. "Everything is going well but I just couldn't make it in time," Nishikori told www.daviscup.com. "I'm sure I will come back soon, hopefully in Miami this month or for the clay court season but not this week." Nishioka has opted to return to the United States as a precaution against being quarantined because of the coronavirus outbreak ahead of next week's ATP Tour Masters event in Indian Wells. President Donald Trump has suggested that the US might consider imposing restrictions on people travelling from Japan because of the virus threat. India travel to 2005 and 2018 champions Croatia with 46-year-old doubles stalwart Leander Paes in the line-up as his final season as a pro winds down. Paes made his Davis Cup debut 30 years ago and boasts a career competition record of 92 wins and 35 losses. He holds the overall Davis Cup record for most doubles match-wins, recording his 44th during the zonal victory against Pakistan last year. Croatia will be led by 2014 US Open winner Marin Cilic while India's top player Sumit Nagal is ranked at 127 in the world. The United States, champions a record 32 times, are also set for an emotional two days in Honolulu against Uzbekistan. Twins Bob and Mike Bryan will play their last Davis Cup tie having already said they will retire for good after the US Open. Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Reilly Opelka are all ranked in the top 60 in singles for the US. Uzbekistan doesn't have one player even in the top 150. Elsewhere, there will be guaranteed cross-border fireworks in Bogota in the all-South American clay court clash between Colombia and 2016 champions Argentina. Bratislava sees Slovakia host three-time champions Czech Republic in a first-time meeting for the two neighbours who split into two independent nations in 1993. "We are like brothers rather than rivals or enemies," Slovak number one Andrej Martin told a news conference. "But you always want to beat your big brother." Australia, champions on 28 occasions, welcome Brazil to Adelaide but are without Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur, their two top singles players. John Millman, who lost an agonising five-set clash to Roger Federer at the Australian Open this year, leads the home challenge. Davis Cup qualifiers on Friday and Saturday: At Zagreb Croatia v India At Debrecen Hungary v Belgium At Bogota Colombia v Argentina At Honolulu USA v Uzbekistan At Adelaide Australia v Brazil At Cagliari Italy v South Korea At Dusseldorf Germany v Belarus At Nur-Sultan Kazakhstan v Netherlands At Bratislava Slovakia v Czech Republic At Graz Austria v Uruguay At Miki Japan v Ecuador At Stockholm Sweden v Chile dj/mw
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