Tokyo, Apr 12 (AP) Naomi Osaka put Japan a step away from reaching the Billie Jean King Cup Finals with her 6-2, 7-6 (5) victory over Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva on Friday.

The four-time Grand Slam champion's win followed Nao Hibino's 6-1, 6-0 victory over Anna Danilina in Tokyo to give Japan a 2-0 lead in the women's team competition.

Also Read | LSG vs DC Live Score Updates of IPL 2024: Get Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals Toss Winner Result Live Commentary and Full Scorecard Online of Indian Premier League Match 26.

Also Friday, Australia took a 2-0 lead over Mexico in Brisbane.

Japan and Australia need a win in Saturday's reverse singles or the doubles match to advance to the Finals in November.

Also Read | NBA 2023-24 Playoffs Free Live Streaming Online: How To Watch National Basketball Association Matches Live Telecast on TV & Score Updates in IST?.

The eight winners of the qualifiers will join defending champion Canada, runner-up Italy, host nation Spain, and a wildcard at the 12-team Finals in Seville.

Australia has been runner-up twice in the last five years and is chasing its first title since 1974 in the former Federation Cup era.

Each match-up is a best-of-five series. There are four singles matches and if necessary a doubles match.

In Brisbane, Arina Rodionova and Daria Saville gave Australia a 2-0 lead over Mexico after opening singles wins. Rodionova beat Giuliana Olmos 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 before Saville defeated Marcela Zacarias 6-1, 6-0.

The other matchups are Brazil-Germany, France-Britain, Switzerland-Poland, USA-Belgium, Slovakia-Slovenia, and Ukraine-Romania. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)