Against the odds, Andy Murray and Great Britain won the 2015 Davis Cup, they begin their defence this week against Japan and we take a look at their potential route to another final
So here we are again, it is just over three months since a heady weekend in Ghent when captain Leon Smith saw the Murray brothers lead the team to a first Davis Cup success in 79 years and on Friday they will take on Japan in Birmingham.
Great Britain v Japan: Davis Cup squads
Great Britain Japan
Andy Murray Kei Nishikori
Kyle Edmund Taro Daniel
Jamie Murray Yoshihito Nishioka
Dominic Inglot Yasutaka Uchiyama
Victory over Belgium in the final was preceded by victories in three home ties, including a semi-final triumph over Australia, a quarter-final victory over top seeds France and a first round success over USA, memorable for Dan Ward's epic five set victory over John Isner, winning 15-13 in the fifth.
Having won the trophy for the first time since 1936 can GB now emulate their 1930s predecessors whose triumph was the last of four in succession having also won the title in 1935, 1934 and 1933.
Since 2008 both Spain and the Czech Republic have managed to successfully defend the trophy but things could hardly be more difficult for Smith's team who face a difficult looking draw if we are to witness a repeat of those celebratory scenes in Belgium.
So what does the tournament and the draw have in store for the holders.......
First Round - Japan
Captain Smith has named a full strength squad with world No 2 Murray making his return to the court following the birth of his daughter. The Scot enjoyed an impressive start to 2016 reaching the Australian Open final, only to run into a familiar brick wall in the shape of Novak Djokovic who claimed the title.
Murray was beaten for the fifth time in Melbourne final, four of them against Djokovic who could provide quarter-final opposition for Smith's team.
Kyle Edmund has once again been given the nod over Dan Evans and James Ward, while Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot provide the options in the doubles, although it is likely to be the brothers who pair up for any final - Jamie buoyed by winning the men's doubles title in Melbourne.
World No 6 Kei Nishikori leads the Japan bid with world No 87 Taro Daniel likely to play the other singles rubber. Yoshihito Nishioka and Yasutaka Uchiyama make up the squad captained by Minoru Oeda.
Having lost their World Group first round match to Canada last year, Japan dropped into the play-offs but came through their tie against Colombia on clay in Bogota in November - Daniel fighting back from two sets down in the opening rubber against Santiago Giraldo.
Quarter-Final - Serbia (or Kazakhstan)
Now it gets interesting, Serbia have named a full strength squad for their first round tie with Kazakhstan and that means Djokovic is included. Whether he plays or not remains to be seen having pulled out of his Dubai Championship quarter-final with Felicano Lopez last week with an eye condition.
World No 24 Viktor Troicki is a more than capable second singles player, and equally adept at doubles where Nenad Zimonic provides the experience of eight career Grand Slam titles. Filip Krajinovic completes the squad.
Djokovic's appearance is likely to be crucial as without the 11-time Grand Slam champion they were beaten 4-1 on clay in last year's quarter-final having beaten Croatia 5-0 in the first round.
Having won the competition in 2010 and reached the final in 2013 (lost to Czech Republic), the threat from the Serbs is obvious.
Kazakhstan's threat is not so obvious but they have played in the world group since 2010 and were on the brink of reaching the semi-finals for the first time until Australia overturned a 2-0 deficit to complete a remarkable fightback.
They are led by world No 84 Mikhail Kukushkin. Andrey Golubev (180) or Aleksandr Nedovyesov (190) are likely to play the other singles rubber and Dmitry Popko (236) completes the squad.
The nature of Davis Cup means the tie will be hosted by the team who did not host the last meeting so for GB a Serbia win would mean an away tie, while a Kazakh win would mean would mean a first meeting between the countries and a drawing of lots to decide the venue.
Semi-Final - Italy (or Switzerland, Argentina, Poland)
Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka give the Swiss two players in the world's top four but neither have been named for their trip to Italy, meaning Marco Chiudinelli at No 146 is their highest ranked player.
Henri Laaksonen, Adrien Bossel and Antoine Bellier give the Swiss line-up an unfamiliar look against an Italian side likely to be favourites with Andreas Seppi (39), Paolo Lorenzi (52) and Simone Bolelli (73) three consistent tour stars joined by Marco Cecchinato in their squad.
Argentina and Poland meet on the hard courts in Gdansk and with big serving Jerzy Janowicz and Lukas Kubot leading the squad they may just edge Argentina who would favour a meeting on clay but have reached the semi-finals in five of the last six years, losing their only final to Spain in 2011.
Leonardo Mayer, Carlos Berlocq are experienced regulars but Rio Open finalist Guido Pella and Renzo Olivo are both in line for Davis Cup debuts.
We pick Italy to come through and provide Britain's opposition in the last four and the good news is that it would be a home tie following their last meeting in Naples two years ago. For the record Poland would be away while Argentina and Switzerland would also be home ties.
Final - France (or Canada, Germany, Czech Rep, USA, Australia, Croatia, Belgium)
Let's take captain Yannick Noah and France to come through from the bottom half of the draw - all four of the players named in their squad for an intriguing first round tie against Canada are ranked in the world's top 20.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon are included for a tie that will be played on clay in the French region of Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean.
A strong Canada will provide stiff opposition but with big serving Milos Raonic their top ranked player, the French have opted to play the tie on clay.
Vasek Pospisil, Daniel Nestor and Frank Dancevic make up the squad with Nestor's doubles experience vital to if they are to have a chance of progressing.
France will have to overcome Germany or the Czech Republic in the quarter-final - a strong Czech side led by Tomas Berdych should squeeze through in Hannover, with Lukas Rosol, Jiri Vesely and Radek Stepanek completing the squad for the 2012 & 2013 winners. Philipp Kohlschreiber, teenager Alexander Zverev, Dustin Brown and doubles specialist Philipp Petzschner make up the German squad.
Leyton Hewitt will hope his on-court passion translates to the role of Australia captain - his squad of Bernard Tomic, Nick Kyrgios, Sam Groth and double specialist John Peers looks to be one of the most exciting with Tomic and Kyrgios looking like they could fulfill their vast potential this season. Although their tie against a USA team featuring John Isner, Jack Sock and doubles legends Bob and Mike Bryan looks like being a thriller.
Australia should prevail on the grass and play either Croatia or Belgium in the quarter-final with a strong Croatia side of Marin Cilic, Borna Coric, Ivan Dodig and Marin Draganja likely to come through in their home tie against last year's beaten finalists Belgium who have named David Goffin, Kimmer Coppejans, Ruben Bemelmans and Arthur de Greef in their squad.
So Australia to play France in the semi-final with the French providing the opposition for Murray and co in the final, with France the hosts........
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