Japan 3-1 Kazakhstan: History for Japan as heroine Hibino seals Finals place

"I played with Putintseva at Hobart this year and I lost in straight sets and I was not sure what kind of a match it will be today," Hibino admitted.

 

"But it is a team competition with the spectators cheering for you and just knowing that there are Naomi, Shuko [Aoyama] and Ena [Shibihara] behind me gave me courage to play today’s match. In the end, I was empowered by the energy of the spectators and fight til the end."

 

Japanese captain Ai Sugiyama was keen to praise her players and their hard work in the lead-in to this event.

 

"Ever since I became the captain of the BJK Cup last year, everyone has worked hard  and has done what  each one needs to do. It was a process in which everyone dealt with her disappointments aiming to end up being a stronger player.

 

"That is why this road to the Finals opened up in front of us. I feel that I have been able to spend meaningful a year and four months and I am really proud of this team."

"When two strong teams meet and there is a tense fight... Then someone had to lose," Kazakhstan captain Yuriy Schukin said. "I want to congratulate the Japanese team on reaching the final stage of the Billie Jean King Cup. We have to play the Play-offs in November, we will prepare." 

 

There was something of a consolation for Kazakhstan, however, in the doubles as Anna Danilina and Zhibek Kulambayeva overcame Ena Shibahara and Shuko Aoyama 7-6(7) 3-6(9).

 

This was Shibahara's first defeat in Billie Jean King Cup competition having won her previous eight matches – all in doubles – while Aoyama lost for the first time since 2017. She has now won 25 of the 29 doubles matches she has featured in. 

 

While it was Hibino’s victory over Putintseva that ultimately proved decisive, much of the damage was done on day one as Osaka marked her return to Billie Jean King Cup action with a key victory over Putintseva in the tie’s second singles match. 

 

Osaka has made an encouraging return to action this season after missing the entire 2023 campaign following the birth of her daughter, Shai, in July and her triumph here was further evidence of this.

 

The 26-year-old entered the clash with five wins from seven Billie Jean King Cup matches for Japan, but Putintseva is an opponent she has struggled with previously. 

 

The pair have faced each other four times on the WTA Tour, with Putintseva winning on three occasions, but this time around Osaka rounded off an excellent day’s work for Japan. 

 

Defeat ended Putintseva’s hopes of drawing level with Yaroslava Shvedova in second place on the list for most Billie Jean King Cup match-wins by a Kazakhstan player this weekend. She requires three further match-wins so the wait goes on. 

 

Osaka defeated Putintseva 6-2 7-6(5) to build on Hibino’s earlier 6-1 6-0 triumph over Anna Danilina to leave Japan on the brink of history, which was duly sealed by Hibino in the opening singles match of day two. 

 

Nao Hibino, take a bow.