The fourth-ranked Murray, who lost to eventual winner Novak Djokovic in a five-set match in Melbourne, says it is “probably a sensible decision” to pull out of the group matches ahead of a busy year that also includes the London Olympics.

With Britain’s leading player missing, captain Leon Smith selected James Ward, Dan Evans, Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins for the Feb. 10-12 matches in the first round of Euro/Africa Zone Group I.

The matches will be played in Glasgow, Scotland.

Britain beat Hungary in September to gain promotion from Group II and Smith says “we go into the tie knowing Slovakia will be favorites.”

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