JPN 2-1 ROU: Finals debutants Japan pull off stunning comeback to make quarter-finals
14/11/2024 16:26
Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi get Japan over the line with 6-1 7-5 doubles win to claim prize of a last-eight clash with Italy on Saturday
By Matt Roberts
Japan produced an amazing comeback to beat Romania 2-1 and reach the quarter-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time since 2013.
When Nao Hibino lost the opening singles match of the day 6-2 6-4 against Ana Bogdan, Japan’s hopes were hanging by a thread.
But Ena Shibahara, playing singles in place of the injured Naomi Osaka at these Finals in Malaga, stepped up to record the biggest win of her career, beating World No 73 Jaqueline Cristian 6-4 7-6(2) to level the tie.
In the decisive doubles, Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi sent Japan through to the last eight with a thrilling 6-1 7-5 victory against Elena Gabriela Ruse and Monica Niculescu. Japan’s reward is a quarter-final tie against last year’s runners-up, Italy.
Ai Sugiyama has now won all eight of her ties since taking over as captain in 2023 and she was beaming with pride afterwards.
“I feel great”, she said. “To get to the Finals was one of my goals and all the players and staff put in a great effort. When I was playing, it was tough for me to play team events. I put too much pressure. But these days the girls are dealing with the pressure and are playing really well. Even though we lost the first match, we fought so hard."
After adverse weather in Malaga led to the postponement of Spain’s tie against Poland on Wednesday evening, this became the first tie of the 2024 Finals, and both sides had plenty of passionate support inside the arena.
The day began in brilliant fashion for Romania as Bogdan put on a dominant display to beat Hibino. The Romanian came into her match with a 4-1 head-to-head lead and she once again proved too strong for her opponent. She broke Hibino twice and reeled off five straight games in a straightforward opening set. A crucial break in the second set - earned with a sensational backhand passing shot - proved enough to secure the win.
Romania’s participation at these Finals was only possible thanks to a stunning comeback from 0-2 down in April’s Qualifier against Ukraine and Bogdan was keen for the team to carry those emotions with them, while also focusing on the task at hand, with captain Horia Tecau encouraging his side to “dream big”.
“What we lived in April was a very big moment for us and something I have dreamed of to qualify here, to play in the World Cup with my team and to do that for my country”, Bogdan said. “I'm really happy with my performance today and proud of how I managed my emotions and my feelings out there, because I started a bit tight and I finished a bit tight. Every time I play for my country I have a different feeling. I just play with my heart.”
With Shibahara knowing that she needed to win to keep Japan’s hopes alive, she produced a wonderful performance to beat Cristian in straight sets. She’d only ever played doubles at Billie Jean King Cup in the past, but she’s been focusing on her singles career throughout 2024, and this was her best solo moment yet, proving that captain Sugiyama was right to put her faith in her.
One break of serve was enough for Shibahara in a closely contested opening set, but she had to work her way from a break down in the second as Cristian fought with everything she had. But Shibahara played with considerable intensity, she ventured forwards at key times, and she held her nerve to play a flawless tiebreak to seal victory.
“It’s an amazing feeling”, Shibahara said. “I was a little nervous going into the match. You know, we were down, but I just took that opportunity to challenge myself and do the best that I can to keep my team in the match. I was serving really well and I’m just really happy with the way I played.
“This year I chose to focus on singles. It was a really big decision, because I created a great career in doubles. I'm really grateful for all the experiences that I gained on the doubles career. I feel like that helped me build confidence in these bigger stages like these matches today.”
Shibahara’s incredible victory completely changed the dynamic of the tie and turned Japan into the favourites. In another year, she probably would have been stepping out to play the decisive doubles alongside Aoyama. But Aoyama and Hozumi recently combined to win the WTA 500 event in Tokyo together and Sugiyama trusted them to finish the job here. It was a great call.
The Japanese pair carried their strong form into this match, stamping their authority on it from the start. Their quick hands up at the net and aggressive returns put constant pressure on their opponents and they had the first set in the bag after just 29 minutes.
Six close games went by in the second set before Aoyama and Kozumi made their move, breaking Niculescu’s serve to love. The Romanians responded by immediately carving out three break back points, but Aoyama saved them all on her serve to take Japan to within one game of victory at 5-3.
In the next game, Aoyama hit a forehand return that hung in the air before dropping in, bringing up two match points for Japan. But Ruse saved both with big serves.
So it was down to Hozumi to serve out the match for Japan at 5-4. Awesome defence from the Romanian duo helped them steal the first point and seemed to give the fans renewed belief as they chanted Niculescu’s name.
Moments later, the game became the fourth in a row to reach deuce, a sudden death point that acted as a final lifeline for Romania and a third match point for Japan. It was Romania who won it when Aoyama was forced into a rare miss at the net.
Two fortunate net cords for Niculescu at 5-5 appeared to swing the momentum further in Romania’s favour, but Japan fought back, proving to be a brick wall at the net on yet another sudden death deuce point.
That seemed to finally break the Romanians’ resistance and Aoyama served out the match to love. The Japanese team celebrated with high fives and hugs all round.
