2024-11-15 00:18:00
MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Japan advanced to the quarterfinals of the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time since 2013 with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Romania on Thursday.
In the decisive doubles match, Eri Hozumi and Hideko Aoyama defeated Monica Negulescu and Elena Ruse 6-1, 7-5, and the Japanese team advanced.
Anna Bogdan gave Romania the lead with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Nao Hibino in the day’s first singles match, but Ena Shibahara defeated Jacqui 6-4, 7-6(2) Lin Christian, equalizer for Japan.
Japan will face Italy in the quarter-finals. The United States then competed with Slovakia for a spot in the quarterfinals.
The first match between Japan and Romania was postponed by two hours due to a severe weather warning in force for the Málaga region until today. The alert has already forced the postponement of the first match between Spain and Poland from Wednesday to Friday, when Germany will also face England.
The Billie Jean Gold Cup final comes two weeks after a severe storm caused flash flooding in the Valencia region east of Malaga, killing more than 200 people.
The International Tennis Federation announced a donation to the Spanish Red Cross to support rescue and recovery efforts in the area, and Spanish player Paola Badosa announced that she would donate half of her winnings to help the victims.
The Billie Jean King Cup final and the Davis Cup final were both held in the southern Spanish city. The men’s competition starts next week, also at the Sports Palace.
It is the first time that the women’s team competition and the Davis Cup are held at the same venue and overlapping. For the second year in a row it will offer cash prizes on par with the men’s competition.
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This story was translated from English by AP editors with the help of generated artificial intelligence tools.
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How has Tomoko Saito’s leadership style influenced the performance of the Japanese team in the tournament?
**Interview with Tomoko Saito, Japan’s Billie Jean King Cup Team Captain**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Tomoko. Congratulations on Japan’s historic advancement to the quarterfinals of the Billie Jean King Cup!
**Tomoko Saito:** Thank you! It’s an exciting moment for our team and for Japanese tennis as a whole.
**Editor:** Japan’s victory over Romania was a thrilling come-from-behind win. Can you tell us what the atmosphere was like during that decisive doubles match?
**Tomoko Saito:** The atmosphere was electric! Our players were incredibly focused, and the support from our fans made a huge difference. The team rallied together and believed in each other, which really showed in the matches.
**Editor:** Speaking of the players, how do you think the experience of the team contributed to this victory?
**Tomoko Saito:** We have a blend of experienced players and rising stars. The veterans brought their composure, while the younger players played with a fearless energy. This combination created a solid dynamic on the court.
**Editor:** What does this advancement mean for women’s tennis in Japan?
**Tomoko Saito:** It’s monumental. It shows that our hard work is paying off and serves as inspiration for young athletes in Japan. We hope to continue this momentum and spark more interest in women’s tennis here.
**Editor:** Looking ahead to the quarterfinals, what are your expectations?
**Tomoko Saito:** Each match will be incredibly challenging, but we are determined to give it our all. We want to keep building on this success and make our mark in the tournament.
**Editor:** Thank you for your time, Tomoko. We wish you and the team the best of luck in the upcoming matches!
**Tomoko Saito:** Thank you! We appreciate your support.
