Japan and the U.S. clinched the final two of the eight spots in September’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals with 2-1 wins over Canada and Slovakia in the final group-stages matches of the Qualifiers on Saturday.
In Group A in Tokyo, the home team found itself behind 1-0 against 2023 champions Canada as 18-year-old Victoria Mboko beat Ena Shibahara in a dramatic 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-5 opening singles match — with Mboko needing six match points to seal the 2-hour, 45-minute win.
But after Moyuka Uchijima beat Marina Stakusic 6-3, 6-3 to level the tie, Shibahara shone in a dramatic deciding doubles alongside former longtime partner Shuko Aoyama. The Japanese pair earned a hard-fourth 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Kayla…