Billie Jean King Cup: U.S. And Japan Seal Last Two Spots At Finals
TOPSHOT - Japan's Shuko Aoyama (top L) and Ena Shibahara (top R) play a shot against Canada's Kayla ... More Cross (bottom R) and Rebecca Marino (bottom L) during the women's doubles match between Japan and Canada in Tokyo on April 13, 2025, on the final day of the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup tennis Group A qualifier between Japan, Canada and Romania. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP) (Photo by RICHARD A. BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)
The United States and Japan clinched the last two spots in September's Billie Jean King Cup Finals after beating Slovakia and Canada respectively in the final group-stage matches of the qualifiers.
The U.S. defeated Slovakia 2-1 in Bratislava, while Japan beat Canada with the same score line in Tokyo.
First-time players Hailey Baptiste and Bernarda Pera led the American charge in the Slovakian capital with singles victories over Renata Jamrichova and Rebecca Sramkova respectively.
Baptiste defeated teen Jamrichova, the junior World No. 1 in 2024, 6-3, 6-4 while Pera held her nerve to beat Slovakian No. 1 Sramkova 7-6(2), 7-5, despite sitting at nearly 40 spots below her in the WTA Rankings.
Pera's win gave Lindsay Davenport's inexperienced side an unassailable 2-0 lead in the weekend's final Group C tie and booked them a place at September's Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen.
'They were amazing all week and in practice,' Davenport said about Pera and Baptiste.
'We had a feeling like we had the right momentum, had the right confidence.
'[We]
Pera, 30, was in high spirits after one of the standout victories of her career.
"Oh my god, it feels amazing," Pera said post-match. "Who would have thought? On Monday I was practicing on clay getting ready to play in Rouen, and I got a call from Lindsay saying they need a player here. I was so nervous coming here, first time being on the team. I'm super happy and super excited to get the win.
'Honestly I'm so overwhelmed with the emotions. I'm so happy. I just told Lindsay this has been one of the best weeks ever. I had so much fun with the team. The girls are amazing. I got so much support from all of them, and I'm super happy. The whole team was just amazing, and I'm so, so happy I got to experience this.'
Japan bounced back from 1-0 down to beat Canada 2-1 and book their spot in the Billie Jean King Cup's finale.
Japan found themselves trailing 1-0 against 2023 champions Canada when 18-year-old Victoria Mboko beat Ena Shibahara in a dramatic 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-5 opening singles match which lasted two hours and 45 minutes.
But later, Moyuka Uchijima beat Marina Stakusic 6-3, 6-3 to level the tie before Shibahara alongside former longtime partner Shuko Aoyama earned a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Kayla Cross and Rebecca Marino in the doubles decider to seal a Finals berth for the second year in a row.
"This is not the end," team captain Ai Sugiyama said. "We're really looking forward to go to Shenzhen. It feels great. The first match wasn't our way, the second match, Moyuka played really great, and then the doubles could go either way and we fought for every point. We got through and it was an unbelievable day.'
Japan now look forward to a second consecutive Billie Jean King Cup Finals appearance, bidding to match their best-ever performance when they reached the semi-finals in 1996. Current captain Sugiyama scored the winning point in its quarter-final tie against Germany that year.
The 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals will be played from September 16-21 and will feature hosts China, defending champions Italy, and qualified teams Great Britain, Japan, Kazakhstan, Spain, Ukraine, and the U.S.
The draw for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals will take place on 12 May with further details to be announced soon.
The Billie Jean King Cup Finals have moved from a twelve- to an eight-team event to mirror the existing Davis Cup Final 8 format.
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