Preview: Japan v Romania
13/11/2024 13:13
Two first-time finalists meet at the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals
By Ross McLean
What’s at stake?
As with all the early ties at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals, a place in the quarter-finals is the prize in a revamped women’s World Cup of Tennis finale which is pure knockout.
Going a little deeper than that, Japan and Romania are both making their first appearances at a Finals, so it is a chance for these nations to showcase their talents on the competition’s biggest stage.
Neither nation has consistently reached the latter stages, with Japan bidding to reach the Billie Jean King Cup quarters for the first time since 2013, while Romania have not done so since 2019.
The winners of Japan versus Romania will face Italy on Saturday. Having finished runners-up last year, Italy are a seeded nation here. Japan and Romania would surely relish the challenge of facing such esteemed opposition.
As an aside, this tie is now the first of the 2024 Finals following yesterday’s postponement of the Spain versus Poland clash due to severe weather warnings. Nobody wants to be the first to bow out of a tournament.
History
This is the first meeting between Japan and Romania in Billie Jean King Cup history.
In terms of recent history for both these nations, Romania qualified for the Finals following a 3-2 victory against Ukraine in April’s Qualifiers in Fernandina Beach.
Horia Tecau’s team recovered from a 2-0 deficit – only the ninth time in the competition’s history such a feat has been achieved – as Ana Bogdan and Jaqueline Cristian took centre stage.
After losing their opening singles matches, the pair won their reverse singles against Lesia Tsurenko and Elina Svitolina before joining forces to great effect in a deciding doubles clash.
Japan, meanwhile, were contesting an Asia/Oceania I event as recently as last season but have enjoyed a surge in the intervening period. This culminated in an impressive 3-1 over Kazakhstan in Tokyo during April’s Qualifiers.
Who to look out for?
The loss of four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is undoubtedly a significant blow for Japan but they have players within their ranks with impressive records.
Nao Hibino starred during April’s Qualifiers, chalking up two impressive victories, while Ena Shibahara has won eight of the nine Billie Jean King Cup matches she has contested for Japan – all in doubles.
The player to watch, however, is Moyuka Uchijima, who has surged to No 56 in the WTA Rankings this season following five title-wins on the ITF World Tennis Tour – two at W100 level.
It was Ana Bogdan and Jaqueline Cristian who hauled Romania over the line in the Qualifiers and most observers would expect those two to lead their nation’s charge once again.
But players have a habit of announcing themselves in Billie Jean King Cup – think Marina Stakusic during last year’s Finals – so maybe the stage is set for 20-year-old Anca Todoni.
Who is saying what?
Ena Shibahara (JPN): “It was one of my dreams to play for my country and a dream of my grandparents’ also. To be able to play with the Japan flag on my shirt and fight for my country is such a great honour.”
Jaqueline Cristian (ROU): “We are very happy, very excited, and I feel really good. We have had some really good days, and I feel we have good energy. Everything is wonderful, really. We are ready.”
