Shibahara Snub: The Surprising Reason Japan’s Tennis Star is Missing from the National Team
Japan Announces Team for Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Final
Japan’s representatives for the women’s tennis international team competition, the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Final, have been announced. The tournament will take place in Malaga, Spain, from November 13th to 20th on indoor hard courts.
Five players, including Naomi Osaka, were selected for the Japanese team. The team will be led by coach Ai Sugiyama, who expressed confidence in the team’s abilities during a press conference.
Japan earned a spot in the final by winning the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Final Qualifier “Japan vs Kazakhstan” in April, with a score of 3 wins and 1 loss.
The final will feature 12 countries, including last year’s winner Canada, runner-up Italy, host country Spain, and wildcard Czech Republic, as well as Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and the United States.
Japan will face Romania in the first match, with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals to face last year’s runner-up Italy.
Japanese Team Members
- Moeka Uchijima
- Naomi Osaka
- Nao Hibino
- Shuko Aoyama
- Eri Hozumi
Coach Sugiyama commented on the team’s chances, saying, “It will undoubtedly be a tough battle, but I feel that if we give our all, Japan will come out on top.” When asked about the team’s goals, he said, “Of course, our aim is to win.”
Notably, Ena Shibahara was not included in the team for this tournament, as she is currently focusing on singles. Coach Sugiyama commented on Shibahara’s absence, saying, “Shibahara has been growing rapidly in singles, so I think the timing was a big problem for her.”
Key to Success
Coach Sugiyama emphasized the importance of doubles in the tournament, saying, ”The doubles will be the key, so I’d like to focus on Aoyama and Hozumi.”
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