Captain Lleyton Hewitt has decided the Sydneysider should shoulder the responsibility of playing the first singles match of their quarter-final tie against the Czech Republic's Tomas Machac at the Spanish venue on Wednesday.
With Thanasi Kokkinakis having had to pull out before the tournament with a belated injury, Â Hewitt effectively had a choice of three players to take the 'number two' singles role behind Alex de Minaur - world No.56 Thompson, Alexei Popyrin (No.40) or Max Purcell (No.45).
The captain plumped for the experience of Thompson, despite the claims of the higher-ranked Popyrin, who was drafted in to replace Kokkinakis, and Purcell, who is being saved to rekindle his brilliant partnership with Matt Ebden should the tie come down to a doubles decider.
Thompson and Machacm, who is 22 places lower than the Aussie in the world rankings, have never played before.
The second singles rubber will feature a first-ever meeting between the countries' respective number ones, de Minaur, the world No.12, against rising Czech star, world no.31 Jiri Lehecka.
The winners of the tie will play Finland, who were surprise conquerors of reigning champions Canada on Tuesday.
Hewitt's men are hoping to go one better than last year when they reached the final against the Canadians as they seek to lift the 'World Cup of men's tennis' for the first time in 20 years.
7°C