By David Law BBC Radio Five Live in Melbourne

Rusedski is keeping his options open

Rusedski is refusing to commit to the team for the Euro-Africa Zone tie against Israel in March and says he won't be rushed into making a decision.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "I don't know at the moment, with Tim out of the team it makes it a lot more difficult for us to do well at Davis Cup."

"I haven't made a decision," said the British No 2. "I'll sit down and think more after the Australian Open."

Henman announced his retirement from the Davis Cup on Friday and called Rusedski to tell him the news before it was made public.

"It came as a little bit of a surprise to me," said Rusedski. "It's an interesting time for him to be making the decision.

"I'd heard chat about him putting his rackets away from Davis Cup. That's his decision and his choice."

Have Your Say Discuss GB's Davis Cup chances

Great Britain plays Israel in Tel Aviv for the right to earn another World Group play-off match.

"I have to think about what I'm going to do. If Tim had been playing, I would be playing, now this puts a whole new slant on the Davis Cup for me."

Britain's captain Jeremy Bates is in Melbourne and has spoken to Rusedski about the matter but if he expected a guarantee from his new number one player, he did not get it.

"I can't make a decision at the moment," said Rusedski. "I want to focus on the Australian Open and then sit down. It's unfair for me to think about this right now."

Rusedski faces Swedish veteran Jonas Bjorkman in the opening round of this year's first Grand Slam event.