TOKYO, Jul 21 (Kyodo/APP): Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka will be part of Japan’s five-woman team for September’s Billie Jean King Cup finals in China, the Japan Tennis Association announced Monday.
The four-time Grand Slam winner will be joined by Moyuka Uchijima, Ena Shibahara, Eri Hozumi and Shuko Aoyama at the eight-nation finals of the premier women’s international team tennis competition in Shenzhen.
Japan skipper Ai Sugiyama named the team in an online press conference.
“I believe that this is the best team we have right now,” Sugiyama said. “We want to harness the strength of our team as we aim to reach the top.”
Japan will open its campaign against quarterfinal opponent Britain on Sept. 18. Defending champion Italy and host nation China are also among the finalists.
The Japanese team qualified for the finals by beating Canada at Tokyo’s Ariake Colosseum in April, minus an injured Osaka.