Japan vs Great Britain BJK Cup Prediction 9/18/2025 Today’s Tennis Picks

Japan will face Great Britain in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen, China. The tie is scheduled to take place on Thursday, September 18. Here’s our Japan vs Great Britain prediction. This preview will also include a Japan vs Great Britain pick.

Japan vs Great Britain Billie Jean King Cup Preview

Japan will compete in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for the second straight year. They topped the group containing Romania and Canada in April qualifiers. But their chances of making an impression are slim after losing their biggest star Naomi Osaka, to injury.

Osaka had reached the US Open semifinals earlier this month and was playing some of her best tennis following her maternity break, but team captain Ai Sugiyama is now forced to tweak the lineup. Japan’s top singles player in the squad will be Moyuka Uchijima, who earned her first Top 10 win of her career this season by beating Jessica Pegula in Madrid. But she had been in poor form since, winning just two matches in four months. Other nominated team members include Ena Shibahara, Eri Hozumi, and Shuko Aoyama.

Great Britain are four-time finalists of the Billie Jean King Cup and reached the semifinals last year in Malaga, where they were eliminated by an in-form Slovakia. They reached the Shenzhen Finals after beating Germany and the Netherlands back in April at the Hague. Team captain Anne Keothavong will be without Emma Raducanu, but will retain the players who were integral to their qualification. Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Jodie Burrage, and Francesca Jones will make the Finals line-up.

Japan vs Great Britain Billie Jean King Cup Head-To-Head

These two countries have met twice in the Billie Jean King Cup. Great Britain led 2-1, winning their first clash in March 1972 and the second in a World Group tie in 1985. Japan won their most recent meeting at the 2018 World Group II playoffs.

Japan vs Great Britain Billie Jean King Cup Prediction

Osaka’s absence is a big blow to Japan’s chances in this match and the underdogs will need to score at least one singles point to take the tie into the decisive doubles rubber, which would be all to play for. But I don’t see it getting there as Great Britain have a better team on paper and will make that strength in depth count on the court.