Japan are using Naomi Osakas recent Grand Slam win and her new World No.1 ranking achievement as a motivational factor ahead of their Davis Cup Qualifier against China. Japanese team captain Satoshi Iwabuchi said his Davis Cup squad had arrived to Guangzhou still in positive spirits from watching Osakas amazing achievement.
It has been huge and Naomi is inspiring both men and women players and fans, said Iwabuchi. What she has done has made the Davis Cup squad braver as players because she is showing what can be achieved.
So many kids are now interested in tennis and if we do well as a team we can help the game that way as well. Though the Japanese squad is without their star player Kei Nishikori, who is still recovering from the thigh injury he sustained at the Australian Open, they have Yoshishto Nishioka to spearhead the visitors.
The second singles match will feature Japans world No. 69 Taro Daniel. We have players who have done well in China before and they love playing here, said Iwabuchi. The weather is warmer than we expected and we are happy with that, and we are ready for this opportunity to make the finals in Madrid.
China team captain Jiang Wei said that the hosts are looking forward to making the most of this opportunity. We have been here a week already and the conditions suit us, said Jiang. We have confidence.
In tennis you just never know what can happen, especially when you are playing at home. You cant win the French Open against Rafael Nadal, says Rod Laver
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