Davis Cup captain David Lloyd had no hesitation in giving him his Great Britain debut against Monaco in July 1995 and Rusedski duly posted two singles wins.

In 1998, he and Tim Henman led Britain back into the elite World Group. Their relationship was businesslike at best but they carried the team until Henman opted out of the competition in 2004. In doubles, they were formidable, winning eight of nine matches.

Typical of a somewhat luckless career, Rusedski's most heroic singles performances came away from home, notably a stunning defeat of Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti on clay in 2001.