Japan Advances to Billie Jean King Cup Finals After Thrilling Victory Over Canada

Japan has successfully secured their spot in the Billie Jean King Cup finals for the second year in a row, thanks to a dramatic victory over the defending champions, Canada. The decisive moment came from the doubles team of Ena Shibahara and Shuko Aoyama, who overcame their opponents, Kayla Cross and Rebecca Marino, with a score of 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 in an intense final match.

The duo started strong, dominating the first set with a 6-3 win, swiftly building a 3-0 lead through two breaks. However, Canada fought back in the second set, with Cross and Marino taking it 7-5, which forced a deciding third set. In the final set, Shibahara and Aoyama regained their focus and control to secure the overall victory for Japan.

The competition began with an hour-long opening match where Canada's Victoria Mboko, only 18 years old, managed to defeat Japan's Ena Shibahara. Despite a fierce rally from Shibahara in the second set, which included saving three match points in a tiebreak, Mboko ultimately claimed the match following a closely contested third set that saw her convert a match-winning forehand.

In contrast, Japan's top player Moyuka Uchijima delivered a solid performance against Marina Stakusic, winning her match 6-3, 6-3, in just over an hour. Uchijima, who holds a significant ranking advantage over Stakusic, quickly seized momentum, winning 13 consecutive points to capture the first set and exhibited strong play in the second, culminating in a victory cheered on by enthusiastic home supporters.