Tennis-Japan book BJK Cup finals spot with win over Canada

TOKYO, April 13 (Reuters) - Japan secured a second consecutive Billie Jean King Cup finals appearance with their 2-1 win over 2023 champions Canada thanks to Ena Shibahara and Shuko Aoyama's 6-3 5-7 6-2 win over Kayla Cross and Rebecca Marino in the qualifying doubles decider on Sunday.

Shibahara and Aoyama powered through the opening set 6-3, breaking twice for a quick 3-0 lead. Cross and Marino hit back to lead 5-1 in the second before edging it 7-5 to level the match, but the Japanese pair regrouped to dominate the decider.

"I was very nervous before the match. I just tried to focus my energy on the court and I'm happy with today’s win," the 37-year-old Aoyama said.

"I’m really happy that I got the doubles done today," an emotional Shibahara added, having lost her singles tie.

Canada's 18-year-old Victoria Mboko edged Shibahara 6-4 6-7(8) 7-5 earlier in a marathon opening clash. Mboko fired eight aces to take the opening set after racing to a 2-0 lead. In the second, Shibahara fought back, saving three match points in the tiebreak before levelling.

Mboko trailed early in the decider but recovered to break for 4-4, and after squandering three more match points, sealed victory with a forehand winner on her seventh.

Japanese number one Moyuka Uchijima breezed past Marina Stakusic 6-3 6-3 in one hour and 15 minutes to level 1-1 and force the doubles decider.

Uchijima, ranked 77 places higher, won 13 straight points en route to taking the opening set. After Stakusic saved two break points at the start of the second, Uchijima pounced for a 4-2 lead and served it out to seal victory to rapturous home support.

Having played the qualifiers without injured Naomi Osaka, Group A leaders Japan join hosts China, defending champions Italy, and fellow qualifiers Ukraine, Spain, Britain and Kazakhstan for September’s eight-team finals in Shenzhen.

The final spot will go to either Slovakia or the United States in Group C. They face off in Bratislava later on Sunday.