New Zealand's tennis side for this weekend's Davis Cup in Auckland has been given a boost after South Korea's best two players in the tournament pulled out.
Hyeon Chung who is ranked 92 in the world and Duckhee Lee who is in the top 150 have not travelled with the team.
They are sitting out the cup to focus on future grand slams.
Artem Sitak (r) and Marcus Daniell during the Davis Cup, 2015. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand coach Alistair Hunt said the news is disappointing as it would have been good to have the best on the court.
"From our team perspective it gives us a better chance, playing against the two guys in the top 100 and 150 would have made things challenging but now things are a lot more even."
The top player the New Zealand team made up of Rubin Statham, Michael Venus, Marcus Daniell and Artem Sitak will now face is 19-year-old Soo Woo Kwon who is ranked 234th.
Alistair Hunt said the New Zealand team was in good form.
"They're coming off some good results, they're hitting the ball well - if the weather would clear up that would make things a bit easier.
"We've just got to prepare the best we can for the weekend, so we are training indoors if possible," Mr Hunt said.
Singles will be played on Friday, doubles on Saturday and then reverse singles on Sunday.
