Naomi Osaka showcased her dominance on the tennis court as she propelled Japan towards the Billie Jean King Cup Finals with a stellar performance against Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva. Osaka's impressive display included 15 aces and a straight-sets victory of 6-2, 7-6 (5), marking her return to the team competition after a hiatus since February 2020.
The four-time Grand Slam champion exhibited her resilience by saving all three break points she faced, while also amassing a commanding 31-16 lead in winners. Her triumph, coupled with Nao Hibino's earlier victory over Anna Danilina, handed Japan a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five-match qualifying round.
The Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers feature a total of 16 nations competing on Friday and Saturday, with the victorious teams advancing to the prestigious 12-team Finals set to take place in Seville, Spain, in November. The successful qualifiers will join an elite group of teams, including defending champion Canada, 2023 runner-up Italy, host Spain, and wild-card selection Czech Republic in the Finals.
Meanwhile, in other early matches on Friday, host Australia surged ahead with a 2-0 lead over Mexico, showcasing their determination to claim their first title since 1974. The global qualifiers also witnessed intense matchups such as Belgium facing the United States, Ukraine taking on Romania, and top-ranked Iga Swiatek leading Poland against Switzerland.
Notable players like 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu representing Britain, Germany challenging Brazil, and Slovenia squaring off against Slovakia added to the excitement of the qualifiers. The stage is set for a thrilling weekend of tennis action as nations vie for a coveted spot in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
In Brisbane, under the guidance of captain Sam Stosur, Australia's Arina Rodionova and Daria Saville delivered impressive performances to secure a commanding lead over Mexico. With the determination to clinch their first title in nearly five decades, Australia's team is poised for a strong showing in the ongoing qualifiers.
For more updates and coverage on tennis news, visit AP tennis.
