Japan and the United States have claimed the last two of the eight available positions in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, scheduled for September. Both teams secured their spots with 2-1 victories in their final qualifying group stage matches on Saturday, Japan defeating Canada and the U.S. overcoming Slovakia.
In Tokyo, Japan, playing in Group A, initially trailed 1-0 against Canada, the 2023 champions. Victoria Mboko, an 18-year-old player from Canada, defeated Ena Shibahara in a thrilling opening singles match that lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes, with a score of 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-5. Mboko needed six match points to secure the win.
However, Moyuka Uchijima leveled the score for Japan by defeating Marina Stakusic 6-3, 6-3. Shibahara then partnered with her former long-time doubles partner Shuko Aoyama in the decisive doubles match. The Japanese duo fought hard to win 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 against Canada`s Kayla Cross and Rebecca Marino, securing Japan`s place in the Finals for the second consecutive year.
Japanese team captain Ai Sugiyama commented, “This is not the end. We are really looking forward to going to Shenzhen. It feels great. The first match didn’t go our way, but in the second match, Moyuka played exceptionally well. The doubles match could have gone either way, but we fought for every point. We pulled through, and it was an incredible day.”
Meanwhile, in Bratislava, the United States achieved their first victory against Slovakia in three Billie Jean King Cup encounters. The previous losses were at the Finals in 2021 and 2024. Hailey Baptiste and Bernarda Pera, who joined captain Lindsay Davenport`s team shortly before the qualifiers, maintained their undefeated record for the weekend, each winning their singles matches in straight sets against Renata Jamrichova and Rebecca Sramkova, respectively.
Davenport praised her team, saying, “They were amazing all week and in practice. We felt we had the right momentum, confidence, and team chemistry. It was especially impressive to see both Hailey and Bernarda rise to the occasion. Bernarda, in particular, played against a higher-ranked player in this environment and showed great composure in crucial moments. I am extremely proud.”
Baptiste won convincingly 6-3, 6-4 against 17-year-old Jamrichova, who was the junior World No. 1 in 2024. Pera then secured the U.S.`s spot in Shenzhen by upsetting World No. 37 Rebecca Sramkova 7-6(2), 7-5, despite being ranked almost 40 places lower.
Pera, ranked No. 76 globally, lost a 5-3, 0-30 lead in the first set but managed to break Sramkova`s serve, forcing a tiebreak which she dominated. The 30-year-old left-hander also recovered from a 4-0 and 5-2 deficit in the second set, without facing a set point, to win the match.
An emotional Pera said after her victory, “Oh my god, it feels amazing. Who would have thought? Just on Monday, I was practicing on clay, preparing for Rouen, when I received a call from Lindsay asking if I could join the team here. I was very nervous coming here, being my first time on the team. I am incredibly happy and excited about this win.”
Pera added, “Honestly, I am overwhelmed with emotions. I am so happy. I just told Lindsay that this has been one of the best weeks ever. I had so much fun with the team. The girls are amazing, and I received so much support from all of them. I am so, so happy to have experienced this. The whole team was just amazing.”
The 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals are scheduled for September 16-21 and will be hosted by China. Participating teams include China (host), Italy (defending champions), Great Britain, Japan, Kazakhstan, Spain, Ukraine, and the United States.
Rupert Caldwell