Sunday started in triumph and ended in heartbreak for Team Canada at the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers in Tokyo against the host nation.
Victoria Mboko got the ball rolling for Canada against Japan with a hard fought 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-5 victory over Eva Shibahara to hand the veteran her first loss in a Billie Jean King Cup live match. The contest was a back-and-forth affair from start to finish as well as a contrast in styles featuring Mboko’s powerful game and Shibahara’s guile and craftiness. The Canadian hit 14 aces and earned the same number of break point chances while returning serve. In the third set, she overcame a 0-2 deficit to improve her season record to a remarkable 30-2.
“I feel like we were both very nervous in the first set, it wasn’t as high quality as it got towards the end of the third set,” Mboko said. “I had so many opportunities in the second set, but Ena [Shibahara], she was just on every single one of my balls. She was playing super great, and I knew I had to take it up another level. I’m so happy to get this win today.”
READ: Canada off to Roaring Start at Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers
Marina Stakusic was unable to follow suit as she fell 6-3, 6-3 to world no. 51 Moyuka Uchijima which meant that the tie would be decided by the doubles match with the winner advancing to the Finals in September. Kayla Cross and Rebecca Marino left it all on the court against their accomplished opponents but just couldn’t get over the finish line as the pair fell 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 to Shibahara and thShuko Aoyama.
“I’m very, very, very proud of Rebecca and Kayla for showing up and playing the way they did this evening, playing against a very experienced Japanese team, one of the best players in the world,” Team Canada captain Heidi El Tabakh said.
The loss means the Canada will play in the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs this November for the chance to play in the Qualifiers next year. A draw at a later date will determine Canada’s adversaries in the three-day event featuring a round-robin format.
“Overall, I really do believe it was a great day. It was a very tough day, all matches were very close,” El Tabakh added. “I’m sure we’re all disappointed we lost, but I’m very, very proud of every single girl on the team and the effort they put in today. We fought till the end, and it just didn’t go our way.”
Photos: Sarah-Jäde Champagne
