Kei Nishikori will join Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka on the sidelines as Davis Cup begins World Group action in February. When asked about his reasons for skipping the tie on Monday after his first round win in Melbourne, Nishikori said the event asks for too much from players that are already strapped from scheduling issues.

“I'm not playing because the schedule, it's gonna be too tight,” he said. “Going South America, Rio and Buenos Aires, and if I play Davis Cup, that's way too much, you know, for my body and Indian Wells and Miami is coming up after. So I just decided not to play.”

Japan will host France on February 3-5 in Tokyo. Nishikori is Japan’s biggest star and his absence will be a big blow for the event. But it’s just too much to ask says Nishikori.

Like so many other players have in recent years, Nishikori says the event needs to change to make it easier for top players to participate.

“I hope they can make some changes,” he said. “Yeah, right now I think it's way too much to play three times or even if you play final, maybe four, I think. Yeah, I think that has to change, for sure, to make it shorter. I think all the players -- I don't know if all, but I think most of them are hoping to change.”