Japan defeats Canada, secures Billie Jean King Cup Finals spot

Japan secured its place in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for the second consecutive year after defeating Canada 2-1 in a tightly contested tie. Canada initially took the lead with Victoria Mboko's victory over Ena Shibahara, but Japan bounced back with Moyuka Uchijima's win over Marina Stakusic. The deciding doubles match saw Ena Shibahara and Shuko Aoyama triumph over Kayla Cross and Rebecca Marino, clinching the victory for Japan. Canadian captain Heidi El Tabakh expressed pride in her team's effort despite the loss, as Canada now heads to the 2025 Playoffs in November. The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will occur in Shenzhen this September, where Japan aims to better its best-ever performance from 1996. Shibahara expressed satisfaction with the doubles win, underscoring the team's resilience throughout the competition.