Up-and-coming Misaki Doi gave Japan a perfect start as they led 2-0 against Argentina on the first day of the Fed Cup World Group II playoff yesterday.
The 20-year-old, who reached the third round at Wimbledon at her first attempt, whitewashed Maria Irigoyen 6-0, 6-0 in the opener of the best-of-five contest in the Japanese city of Kobe.
Ayumi Morita followed her with a solid 6-2, 6-3 victory over Mailen Auroux in the second singles.
Photo: AFP
“This is my second experience in the Fed Cup. I lost in the Asia-Oceania event in Thailand against Uzbekistan because of a muscle cramp, so I really wanted to win today,” Doi said. “I did my best to prepare. It was not easy playing against another left-hander, but I tried not to think about it too much. I just tried to play my game.”
“I was really nervous. Doi was very calm with the home-court advantage. I just couldn’t do anything today,” Irigoyen said.
After reverse singles matches today, Rika Fujiwara and Kurumi Nara will play the doubles against Irigoyen and Auroux.
The World Group II playoff was originally scheduled for April, but the earthquake and tsunami and ensuing nuclear emergency in northern Japan forced its postponement.
The two countries have an even 3-3 record, but Argentina have won the last three contests. The winners will be promoted to World Group II along with Belarus, Slovenia and Switzerland next year.
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