The World Group was the highest level of Davis Cup competition in 2016.

The first-round losers went into the Davis Cup World Group play-offs, and the winners progressed to the quarterfinals and World Group spot for 2017.

Murray's win over Nishikori was the joint longest match of his career at 4 hours and 54 minutes, along with the 2012 US Open final, until his davis cup semi-final tie with Del Potro.