The draw for the qualifying match
between the women’s tennis teams of Kazakhstan and Japan took place in Tokyo.
The winners of this competition will advance to the Billie Jean King Cup in
November. The confrontation will kick off with Anna Danilina facing Nao Hibino,
followed by Yulia Putintseva squaring off against four-time Grand Slam
tournament winner Naomi Osaka.
“I’ve played against Naomi many times before, so
I’m ready and I know her tactics. I will also analyze her game with my
coach through her previous matches,” said Yulia Putintseva.
The competition is set to feature five matches,
with the team securing three victories declared the winner. The final
match with doubles will probably be decisive. According to experts, the
undisputed favorite in the ranking is the Japanese duo of Shuko Aoyama and Ena
Shibahara, though Kazakh athletes Anna Danilina and Zhibek Kulambayeva are
deemed worthy competitors.
“Their pair is very coordinated and strong, as
they have played a lot together. I’ve faced them before, so I’m familiar
with their style. Similarly, they know how I play. However, they might be
surprised to see who I’m paired with, which could work to our advantage,” shared
Anna Danilina.
One of the athletes of the Kazakh team, Zarina
Dias, has not yet been confirmed for the matches. After a long series of
injuries, putting her into the toughest matches was risky.
