Billie Jean King Cup Finals 2025: Great Britain vs Japan preview

The Lexus GB Billie Jean King Cup team will open their campaign against a strong Japanese side as they look to reach the semi-finals for the second successive year.

Here’s everything you need to know about Great Britain vs Japan at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

When is Great Britain vs Japan at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals?

Great Britain’s quarter-final match against Japan will take place on Thursday 18 September at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena.

The tie will begin at 10:00 BST and will follow a best of three format.

How to watch Great Britain vs Japan at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals?

You can watch every tie from the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on the Tennis Channel.

All of Great Britain’s ties will also be broadcast live on the Tennis Channel, as well as BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app and the Red Button.

The teams

Find out which players have been selected for the upcoming tie between Great Britain and Japan at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

Great Britain vs Japan preview

Great Britain will be hoping they can make a strong statement on their return to Billie Jean King Cup action as they prepare to challenge Japan for a spot in the final four.

Should Great Britain prevail, they’ll set up a semi-final meeting against either Kazakhstan or USA in a bid to reach their first final in 44 years.

British No.3 and long-standing Billie Jean King Cup member Boulter comes in as the most experienced player at the tournament having played in 18 ties for her country so far.

Boulter has racked up an impressive 13-6 win record in Billie Jean King Cup matches throughout her career, including the memorable deciding doubles rubber during this year’s Qualifiers. 

Teaming up with Burrage - who could also be set to feature in the tie against Japan - Boulter bounced back from an earlier defeat in the singles to clinch the crucial doubles win over Suzan Lamens and Demi Schuurs to secure the Brits’ spot in the Finals.

The three-time WTA titleholder has had a turbulent season so far but if there's one thing that's going to spark the fire alight in Boulter, it's competing in a Billie Jean King Cup tie for her country.

Meanwhile, Kartal played an instrumental role in the Brits journey to the Finals after sealing two wins on her debut for Great Britain back in April. The 23-year-old overcame Jule Niemeier and Eva Vedder to clock two important wins on the board for her nation. Since then, the Brighton-born native has continued to flourish on the WTA tour by cracking the world’s top 50 and reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon, her best Grand Slam result to date.

Jones also joins the team and could be set to make her Billie Jean King Cup debut should Keothavong choose to play her. The 24-year-old arrives having won two WTA 125 titles and reaching the main draw of the US Open for the first time in her career after winning all three of her matches in qualifying.

Japan will now be forced to play without their star player after four-time Grand Slam champion and US Open semi-finalist Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Finals.

Instead, Japanese No.2 Mokuya Uchijima will lead her nation out in the tie against the Brits. Uchijima has competed in 11 ties for her country and holds a 8-4 win record.

The world No.77 could be set to face British No.2 Kartal in what would be a third meeting between the pair this season. They previously met in the qualifying rounds of the Abu Dhabi and Qatar Open's, with the head-to-head locked at one a piece.

She's joined by world No.140 Ena Shibahara - who has secured some standout wins this year, including reaching the singles quarter-final at the ATX Open and finishing runner-up in the doubles event at the Lexus Nottingham Open and Puerto Vallarta Open.

With the skills to do damage on the singles and doubles court, Shibahara will be one to watch during the tie against the Brits.

Nao Hibino, Eri Hozumi and doubles world No.38 Shuko Aoyama also complete the line-up of Japanese players looking to upset the second seeds in the Billie Jean King Cup quarter-finals.